US Vice President JD Vance criticized Israel for its “weird panic” and “freakout” over the US-Iran agreement, stating in an interview released on Thursday that it did not address concerns over Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Israeli officials across the political spectrum, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s allies, have also expressed dissatisfaction with the deal, arguing it would limit Israel’s military operations against Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militia.
Vance accused Israel of mistrust in its strongest ally, saying that America has earned trust in the region and that the idea of a “terrible deal” does not make sense given the strong relationship. President Donald Trump attempted to downplay Israel’s concerns during remarks at the G7 summit in France, suggesting Netanyahu adopt a “softer touch” against Hezbollah militants.
Vance cited specific critics of the deal, including far-right Israeli cabinet ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, questioning their exact proposals for addressing national security issues given Israel’s size. The agreement deferred major issues to future negotiations without guaranteeing resolution.