Mike Pence hails Operation Epic Fury, gives 'all the credit' to US armed forces for taking on Tehran

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Days after President Donald Trump launched “Operation Epic Fury,” former Vice President Mike Pence spoke out in support of the mission.

In an interview on Newsmax’s Finnerty, he praised the strength of the US military and backed the decision to strike. He also shared his thoughts on how long the conflict with Iran could last.

Mike Pence says he felt proud of US armed forces in ‘Operation Epic Fury'

During an interview on Newsmax’s Finnerty, Mike Pence said he felt proud of the US armed forces for their role in “Operation Epic Fury.”

The host pointed out that Pence had strongly supported action against Iran and mentioned a Politico report. The report said Pence received more than $400,000 in speaking fees from the National Council of Resistance of Iran and related groups after leaving office in 2021. The host then asked him directly whether he was being paid by Iranian opposition groups to support regime change in Iran.

Pence denied the claim. He said he has believed for decades that Iran has been hostile toward the United States and its ally Israel. He added, "Um, that when they took hostages in 1979, American hostages that they held for hundreds of days? 1983, when they took the lives of 220 Marines through their surrogates in Beirut. Uh, and, and frankly, through all of those years, including during our administration."

Pence also said he was very proud of President Donald Trump for deciding last year to launch strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

He praised, "I couldn't be more proud of President Donald Trump for making the decision last year. To use your forces to directly strike at the nuclear facilities in Iran. Uh, and uh, and, and I give them all the credit in the world for unleashing the overwhelming force of the American Military to eventually, I pray, uh, bring an end to this terrorist regime in Tehran.”

Mike Pence weighs in on how long Iran conflict might last

Later in the interview, the reporter asked how long the conflict might last. “How long does what you just described take?” he asked, adding, “Because it’s not going to go well for Republicans if this lasts for another year.”

Pence responded by pointing to the 1991 Gulf War as an example. “I think the lesson of that war in 1991 was when you put mass on point — which is what President Trump has done here,” he said.

He explained that, under military leadership and in coordination with Israeli forces and other allies, the US has applied "overwhelming force." He added, "A growing list of Arab forces, uh, and even our European allies are finally coming around."

Pence said the strategy is not just about military action but also about restoring deterrence. “Make no mistake about it, the other part of this is about restoring deterrence,” he said. 

He argued that during the Trump administration, Iran was isolated and weakened under a “maximum pressure” campaign. He said the US withdrew from what he called the “disastrous Iran nuclear deal,” and claimed Iran was at its weakest point at that time.

He then criticized former President Joe Biden, saying, "Then, Joe Biden came into office. He begged around to come back into the nuclear deal. They wouldn't even talk to him, and they made him use the Russians as intermediaries. They reconstituted that program. They grew strong again. They grew their ballistic missile." 

“And so now here we are,” he said, adding that President Trump, with what he described as “the greatest military force in the history of the world,” is now taking the fight directly to Iran.