JERUSALEM (Reuters) – US Vice President JD Vance said some members of the Israeli government had tried to influence US public opinion to oppose a deal by the US to end the war with Iran, ​in a podcast episode with host Joe Rogan posted on Wednesday.
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The comments echoed earlier criticism ‌of Israeli government policy by Vance, whom many view as a potential future presidential candidate, in a widening public rift between the two countries.
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Vance defended a deal reached last month to end the war with Iran, which critics in the ​US and Israel have slammed for failing to curb Iran’s missile program and providing no clear ​path to dismantling its nuclear facilities, while constraining Israel in its war with â Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.
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“I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that there have been people within ​the Israeli government who are trying to, like, actually shift us away from that policy because they ​want to continue the military campaign,” Vance said.
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The vice president said that, while he has “good relationships” with some members of the Israeli government, “there are some people within their system that we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that are ​manipulating and trying to change American public opinion to keep the war going on indefinitely”.
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Vance said that ​many countries, allies and adversaries try to influence American policy and that “it doesn’t bother me that Israel tries to do ‌this, â it frankly doesn’t even bother me that Russia or some of these other countries do it”. He said it was “just the nature of being a political leader in 2026”.
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“What does bother me is when those operations, those influence campaigns, actually affect American political judgment,” said the vice president.
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Vance lashed out at Israeli critics of ​the Iran deal in ​June, saying President Donald â Trump is Israel’s only ally, in a sharp rebuke that referenced the billions in US defense aid the country receives.
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Israeli senior officials, speaking anonymously, have said ​the deal’s terms were bad for Israel because they failed to address concerns over ​Iran’s nuclear â and ballistic missile program, a view they say is shared across Israel’s leadership.
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When asked if he thought the US would have engaged in the most recent war with Iran were it not for Israeli influence, Vance said, “yes, â yes ​I do.”
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“I think the president, separate from any influence from ​Israel, believes very strongly, and again I agree with this, that Iran should not have a nuclear weapon,” Vance said.
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The Israeli Prime ​Minister’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.