‘Things happen’: JD Vance’s dismissal of the Iran wedding strike mirrors a long US history of minimizing civilian casualties

A man sits with a child injured, according to Iranian media, in a strike on a home where a wedding was being held in Kuhestak, southern Iran, at a hospital on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.

United States Vice President JD Vance has expressed scepticism about reports of a deadly US attack on a wedding party in the Iranian town of Kuhestak, stating that he does not trust Iran’s narrative. However, he also remarked, “Sometimes, things happen,” regarding the claims.

Speaking at a White House news briefing on Thursday, two days after the attack, Vance stated he lacked new information on the incident while insisting that the US “never targets civilians in combat” and would investigate the matter. Analysts note that his comments align with a history of US administrations disputing or minimizing reports of civilian harm during military operations.

The missile strike hit a wedding celebration in Kuhestak, Hormozgan, on Tuesday night, resulting in four deaths—two women and two children—and 67 injuries, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society. The Hormozgan governor’s office identified the deceased as four-year-old Amir Ali Karimi, 16-year-old Mohammad Malahi, 43-year-old Kolsoum Malahi, and 43-year-old Zarkhatoun Taheri. The Iranian Red Crescent documented the incident, released images from the scene, and petitioned the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court for legal action.

Footage indicated that projectiles destroyed a telecommunications tower near the shoreline, with locals pointing to potential drone use. Defence experts reviewing shrapnel fragments suggested the weapon may be a variant of the AGM-84K SLAM-ER, a precision-guided cruise missile manufactured by Boeing. The Reuters news agency noted that weapons experts reviewing media identified the damage as likely resulting from a direct hit by a US munition.

Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs characterized the Kuhestak strikes as part of a “catalogue of atrocities against the nation of Iran” by the US. Meanwhile, the US announced an investigation.

Earlier, Tim Hawkins, spokesperson for US Central Command (CENTCOM), stated the US was aware of reports of civilian casualties originating from Iranian state media and was reviewing them. Vance later reiterated his scepticism, criticizing Iranian state media while maintaining confidence that the US never targets civilians.

This response reflects a broader pattern in US military history. Following a strike on a girls’ school in Minab, Iran, on February 28, US President Donald Trump initially blamed Iran before later acknowledging that “mistakes are made” as evidence pointed toward a US Tomahawk missile.

Similar shifts in messaging occurred in Yemen, where the US acknowledged that an April 2025 air campaign against the Houthis likely killed 153 civilians. In Afghanistan, a 2008 air attack in Azizabad initially drew denials of civilian deaths before figures were revised upward. In Iraq, US officials initially downplayed abuses at the Abu Ghraib prison before subsequent inquiries exposed widespread torture and led to military convictions and civil judgments, such as a ruling against defense contractor CACI. During the Vietnam War, the US military initially attempted to conceal the My Lai massacre before an inquiry revealed a cover-up.

Emily Tripp, executive director of Airwars, argued that Vance’s reaction treats civilian harm like a PR crisis rather than a matter requiring due process, leaving vulnerable populations facing institutional disbelief.