Vance Defends US Ally Role
JD Vance Criticizes Israeli Politicians for Attacking US Over Iran Deal, Citing Allyship
U.S. Vice President JD Vance issued a sharp warning to Israeli politicians on June 18, slamming their criticism of President Trump's newly signed Iran deal. Speaking at a White House press briefing, Vance said: "If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world," according to TIME.
The rebuke came one day after Trump signed a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding with Iran in Versailles, France, ending a four-month war. Vance reminded Israeli critics that two-thirds of Israel's defensive weapons were built by American hands and paid for by U.S. taxpayers. The U.S. also sends Israel roughly $4 billion in military aid every year, according to CNA.
The Versailles Deal That Split US-Israel Relations
President Trump signed the Iran MoU on June 17 in Versailles, France, according to Daily Sabah. The deal offers Iran a potential $300 billion rehabilitation fund in exchange for permanently halting nuclear weapons production and missile attacks in Lebanon. The U.S. Navy began lifting its blockade of Iranian ports the next morning. By nightfall on June 18, over 12.5 million barrels of Iranian crude oil had moved through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Global News.
The MoU gives both sides 60 days to turn the agreement into a final, binding treaty. Vance described Trump as "the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time," according to Global News. He warned Israeli critics to "wake up and smell the reality" of their isolation, according to Reuters.
Israeli Far-Right Ministers Call the Deal Appeasement
Not everyone in Israel is staying quiet. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir compared the deal to 20th-century appeasement, saying the goal should be to "deal with the Nazis of the 21st century," according to The Jerusalem Post. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attacked the deal's economic concessions to Iran. Vance fired back directly, asking: "What is your exact proposal? You can't just kill your way out of every problem."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stayed publicly silent but is reportedly "fuming" over the agreement, according to NOTUS. Netanyahu has vowed that Israeli Defense Forces will remain in Lebanon for now, according to The Times of Israel. Reports also emerged on June 18 of continued Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, even as the U.S.-led peace process moved forward.
How the US-Israel War With Iran Started in February
The conflict began on February 28 when the U.S. and Israel launched a joint military campaign against Iran, according to Al-Monitor. The war quickly drew international criticism over high civilian casualties in Lebanon. By early June, Trump himself called Israeli tactics in Beirut "not acceptable," citing the death toll among civilians, according to The Times of Israel.
Vance had previewed a diplomatic shift on June 15, appearing on Hannity to hint at a new Middle East strategy, according to The Jerusalem Post. Two days later, the Versailles deal was signed. The speed of the agreement caught many Israeli allies off guard. U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were accused by Netanyahu-aligned media of "selling out" Israel for regional financial stability, according to TIME.
What Vance's Warning Could Mean for US Military Aid
Analysts say Vance's pointed reference to American-built weapons is not just rhetoric. Experts suggest it signals a possible threat to withhold future U.S. defensive systems if Israel keeps striking Lebanon independently, according to Al-Monitor. Israel relies on American weapons for roughly two-thirds of its military defense. Cutting that supply would be a major blow to Israeli security.
The broader shift is clear: the Trump administration is moving away from unconditional support for Israeli military action. Instead, it is pushing a "balance of power" approach in the region. Some analysts warn that a deepening U.S.-Israel rift could open the door for China to expand its influence in the Middle East, according to reporting aggregated by newschannel9.com.
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