Vice President JD Vance contacted U.S. military commanders directly in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia over the spring and summer to obtain their individual assessments of the Iran conflict, according to a report published Thursday by The New York Times.

The calls sought unvarnished judgments on the war's objectives, tactics, casualty estimates, Iranian adaptability in the Strait of Hormuz, the punishment Tehran's government could absorb, and remaining weapons stockpiles. Vance also inquired how transfers of munitions to the Middle East would affect U.S. ability to deter China, Russia, and North Korea.

Commanders expressed particular alarm over depleted stocks of Patriot interceptors, the mainstay of U.S. air defenses. One theater of operations had fallen below 100 such interceptors by late spring. Supplies of Army Tactical Missile Systems and Precision Strike Missiles were also at historic lows.

Vance, who opposed the military operation from the outset, was tasked by President Donald Trump with helping bring the conflict to a close. The private conversations left him with deep concerns about the overall strategy and prospects for success, according to officials familiar with the discussions.

The calls occurred with the knowledge of President Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated that the defense secretary facilitated direct access to combatant commanders for the vice president and other senior White House officials.

A spokesman for General Caine said there is no gap in the military advice provided to the president, vice president, and defense secretary. The report noted a contrast between the sobering private assessments and public statements from administration officials.

Vance's outreach aligns with his long-standing skepticism toward prolonged foreign entanglements and reflects an effort to gather ground-level information to inform decisions on ending the conflict.