United States Vice President JD Vance has accused some members of the Israeli government of trying to use American public opinion to prolong the war with Iran. In a podcast interview that aired on Wednesday, Vance stated that certain Israeli officials are manipulating US public sentiment to sabotage negotiations with Tehran.
Vance's remarks on Joe Rogan podcast
During an interview with US conservative podcaster Joe Rogan, Vance said: "There's a literal foreign influence campaign being funded to tank the very deal that I was pursuing." He described it as "a very discreet, extremely well-funded campaign to try to derail the negotiation and try to derail the deal."
Vance had been heavily involved in the negotiations that led to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) reached in mid-June. The agreement allowed for the continuation of talks, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and a now-abandoned 60-day ceasefire. He defended the MOU, arguing that agreeing to a 60-day negotiating period would eventually lead to a final deal.
US strikes on Iran continue
Despite the diplomatic efforts, the deal did not produce the promised result due to tensions over the Strait. The US has consistently launched attacks on Iran for six nights in the past week. US strikes on Thursday hit civilian infrastructure, killing two people and injuring four in Southern Iran. The attacks targeted power facilities and a train station.
Vance urged Israeli leaders not to attack "the only powerful ally" they have "anywhere left in the entire world." He said that there are "some people 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."
Influence campaign targeting Vance
Vance also admitted that an Israeli-linked influence campaign had targeted him personally over his diplomatic outreach to Iran. "People are attacking me viciously," he stated, adding that he was attacked for "quite literally" trying to "accomplish the negotiation objective that the president set for the country."
He said he "doesn't mind" what he described as "certain elements of the Israeli government" criticising the US position, because foreign governments try to influence the government all the time. However, he added: "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."
