US Vice President Vance Defends Controversial Iran Deal, Rebukes Israeli Hardliners Clinging to US Military Aid
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Vice President JD Vance justified the new US-Iran agreement as a step toward regional peace, while sharply criticizing Israeli cabinet members who oppose diplomacy and remain dependent on billions in US military funding.
Vice President JD Vance stood firm in defense of the United States' recently announced agreement with Iran, describing it as a crucial move toward regional stability and a necessary challenge to the endless cycle of militarism in the Middle East. Vance warned Israeli officials that President Donald Trump is currently the only world leader openly supporting Israel, highlighting the isolation that comes from their government's intransigence. At a White House briefing, Vance noted that while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had not commented, members of the Israeli cabinet have publicly attacked both the deal and Trump, exposing deep divisions within Israel's leadership.
"Donald J Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time," Vance told reporters, underscoring the extent to which Israel relies on US political cover.
Vance pointedly reminded Israeli officials that two-thirds of Israel's defensive weapons are manufactured in the United States and funded by American taxpayers, referencing the staggering $4 billion in annual U.S. military assistance that props up Israel's military apparatus. He urged Israeli officials to recognize the strategic importance of that support, calling out those who scapegoat the US president as Israel's main problem and urging them to “wake up and smell the reality of the situation.”
The agreement, reached this week, seeks to end hostilities with Iran but has drawn criticism from hawks in both Washington and Jerusalem who refuse to accept any diplomatic progress that doesn't prioritize militaristic solutions or the dismantling of Iran's defensive capabilities. Anonymous Israeli officials complained that the terms did not go far enough in curbing Iran's nuclear and missile programs, reflecting a persistent preference for confrontation over negotiation.
In response to Vance's comments, far-right Israeli security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and finance minister Bezalel Smotrich doubled down on their opposition to the deal, insisting on a continued military presence in southern Lebanon and rejecting any move toward de-escalation. Vance previously told the New York Times that Israel cannot solve its security challenges through force alone, a reality that hardliners refuse to accept.
President Trump later posted on social media that all parties in the region should remain committed to negotiations and a comprehensive ceasefire, including in Lebanon and against Hezbollah—a call that stands in stark contrast to the belligerence of Israel's far-right leadership.