WASHINGTON, D.C. — Vice President JD Vance said his Catholic faith shapes his approach to the U.S. war in Iran and ongoing peace negotiations, emphasizing moral scrutiny of military action through the lens of Christian “just war” theory. He stated the doctrine compels leaders “to ask very difficult questions about whether a war is justified.” He added, “But at its best, it’s forcing you to ask the right questions. So I find myself constantly asking myself: ‘Is this justified? Is this moral? Is this the right thing to do?’ And that does provide a limitation on political leaders, as it should.”

Vance has been involved in talks to negotiate peace with Iran as the conflict continues, with Iran accusing the U.S. of violating ceasefire terms. He described himself as “extremely hopeful” that Iran will agree as part of any deal not to develop nuclear weapons. “I think the more difficult question is whether they agree to the kind of enforcement mechanism, the kind of monitoring mechanism, that gives us confidence that they won’t violate the deal in the future,” he said.

Vance and President Donald Trump have justified the war in Iran as an effort to ensure that Iran does not develop nuclear weapons. Vance said his role as vice president has deepened his religious convictions. “Being vice president has definitely strengthened my faith. I’ve just seen things that feel like they’re way too unusual to just be coincidences or luck or chance,” he said. He added, “These are not like the miracles of turning water to wine, but they are these things that make you feel like God is listening to you.”

Vance made the remarks while promoting his upcoming book “Communion,” a follow-up to his 2016 memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” scheduled for release by HarperCollins on June 16. He credited his wife, Usha Vance, with playing a central role in shaping the book, calling her a “vicious editor” who “doesn’t sugarcoat things.” He noted the irony that although she is not a Christian, her influence was pivotal to his faith journey: “There is a certain irony to it, because she is not herself a Christian. But I certainly, I don’t think, would be a Christian today were it not for my wife.”