JD Vance accuses Israel of ‘manipulating’ US public opinion to prolong Iran war

US Vice-President JD Vance has accused some members of the Israeli government of trying to influence Americans’ opinions to prolong the Iran war.

In an interview published on Wednesday, Vance told conservative podcaster Joe Rogan that while he trusts some people within the Israeli government, there are others “who are manipulating and trying to change American public opinion to keep the war going on indefinitely”.

The Israeli government did not immediately respond to Vance’s comments.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday said: “I think the president would certainly agree that, yes, foreign countries certainly do try to persuade American public opinion.”

Speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience, Vance said that people within the Israeli government have been trying to shift the US away from its efforts to negotiate with Iran.

“I definitely think you have seen this very discreet, extremely well-funded campaign to try to derail the negotiation and try to derail the deal,” he said, adding there is “exact evidence” that some Israeli leaders “hate the deal”.

The US reached an agreement with Iran last month, known as the memorandum of understanding (MOU). It allowed for the continuation of formal negotiations, included a now-abandoned 60-day ceasefire and a condition to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

However, tensions over the Strait have resumed recentlyand the US has intensified its strikes on Iran while Tehran targeted US allies in the region.

Vance has been heavily involved in negotiations with Iran – attending negotiations in Pakistan in April and travelling to Switzerland in June for the signing of the MOU.

He told Joe Rogan that he “doesn’t mind” what he described as “certain elements of the Israeli government” criticising the US position, adding that “foreign governments trying and influence the government all the time”.

“What bothers me is actually when Americans allow, meaning American leadership allows, that influence to affect their judgement and to affect what they are advocating for,” he said.

It is the latest in a series of criticisms the vice-president has recently made against Israel as the Trump administration continues to try to find an end to the war, both through diplomatic negotiations and renewed military strikes.

In June, he urged Israeli political leaders, some of whom had chided the US over its agreement with Iran to extend the ceasefire between the two countries, not to attack “the only powerful ally” they have “anywhere left in the entire world”.

The US and Israel launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran in February, prompting Tehran to respond by launching attacks on Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf. The fighting has also spread to Lebanon.

Israel considers Iran a threat to its existence and wants the complete removal of Iran’s nuclear and missile programme, as well as regime change.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives on Wednesday rejected a measure to cut billions of dollars-worth of US aid to Israel.

The motion failed by 314 votes to 104, with several Democrats voting in favour of ending the funding – reflecting a shift within the party away from supporting Israel unequivocally. (BBC)