Investing.com - The White House denied Tuesday that Vice President JD Vance suggested the U.S. might use nuclear weapons against Iran during recent remarks about military operations.

The denial came after Vance said U.S. forces have tools they "so far haven’t decided to use" to enforce an ultimatum from President Donald Trump. The White House responded on X, stating: "Literally nothing @VP said here ’implies’ this, you absolute buffoons."

The statement was directed at an account associated with former Vice President Kamala Harris. That account said Vance implied Trump "might use nuclear weapons."

The exchange occurred as tensions between the U.S. and Iran remain elevated following Trump’s warning in a social media post that, "A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again." Trump was referring to planned attacks on Iran’s infrastructure if a ceasefire deal isn’t reached before the deadline at 8 pm ET today.