The United States does not want war and is willing to negotiate with Iran over its nuclear program, Vice President Mike Pence said on Monday, as the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers unravels.

In his speech at the United Christians for Israel summit, the U.S vice president said: "Iran should not confuse American restraint with a lack of American resolve."

Pence once again repeated that the United States does not want war with Iran. We are willing to negotiate. We are willing to listen. But America will not back down.

Pence described the U.S-brokered nuclear deal with Iran as a disaster, and said he hopes for the best, “but the United States of America and our military are prepared to protect our interests and to protect our personnel and citizens in the region."

"Iran must choose between caring for its people and continuing to fund its proxies who spread violence and terrorism throughout the region and breathe out murderous hatred against Israel,” Mike Pence continued.

Tensions have been on the rise between the Islamic Republic and the United States in recent months after several attacks on oil tankers in the Persian Gulf, and Iran’s proxy group, Houthis in Yemen attacked several Saudi Arabian facilities and airport. In the most recent provocation, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps shot down an American drone that according to them was in Iranian airspace.