JD Vance has stated that there is "no chance" the United States will become involved in a full-scale war with Iran, even if former President Donald Trump chooses to carry out new military strikes.

The vice-president said aboard Air Force Two on Thursday that the president is still weighing his options, with indirect talks ongoing to try and curb Iran’s nuclear programme, The Caspian Post reports, citing The Independent.

His comments follow reports that Trump’s advisers would prefer Israel strike Iran first, as Americans would react more favourably to the US supporting an ally than picking a fight with Tehran without clear provocation.

“The idea that we’re going to be in a Middle Eastern war for years with no end in sight - there is no chance that will happen,” he said, pointing to the US capture of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro in January and the strikes on Iran last summer as operations that were “very clearly defined”.

The comments follow private criticism from General Dan Caine, the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who was reported this week to have cautioned Mr Trump that an attack on Iran could spiral into a protracted conflict.

Gen Caine, behind US military planning, is said to have warned that Iranian retaliation - which the regime has threatened - could result in significant US casualties and turn into a cycle of violence.

Mr Trump wrote on social media that the reports were incorrect, while admitting: “General Caine, like all of us, would like not to see War but, if a decision is made on going against Iran at a Military level, it is his opinion that it will be something easily won.”

Echoing Mr Trump’s recent rhetoric on the matter, Mr Vance said on Thursday: “I think we all prefer the diplomatic option. But it really depends on what the Iranians do and what they say.”

The US and Iran continued indirect talks in Geneva on Thursday, exactly one week after Trump set a deadline of 10 to 15 days for Tehran to agree to a deal to curb its nuclear programme - or risk “really bad things” happening.