Vance Warns Israel: Back U.S.-Iran Deal or Lose Key Ally

U.S. Vice President JD Vance issued a stark warning to Israel, urging the country to support the U.S.-Iran peace deal or risk losing its last major ally. During a White House press briefing, Vance accused Israeli officials of alienating their only powerful supporter by criticizing both Donald Trump and the Iran deal.

Vance stated that two-thirds of Israel's defensive weapons are built by American hands and paid for by American tax dollars. He also accused Israel of delaying negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, citing recent explosions in Beirut as an example. The agreement includes a $300 billion fund for Iran’s economic development but has drawn criticism from Israeli officials who expressed 'deep concern' about the deal.

Vance compared the current deal to President Barack Obama's 2015 Iran deal, arguing that it is an improvement because it makes Iran weaker. He claimed several substantive differences between the two deals, including enrichment and stockpiled weapons-grade material. The $300 billion fund has drawn immediate backlash from Republican allies since the release of the memo.

In an interview with The New York Times, Vance criticized Israeli officials, including far-right ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, for pushing Washington to continue the war. He stated that Israel cannot 'kill its way out' of every national security problem and called on the country to let negotiations play out.

Vice President JD Vance delayed his trip to Switzerland to negotiate the terms of a peace agreement with Iran on Friday. The delay raises questions over the sturdiness of the memorandum of understanding signed by Trump on Wednesday. It came as Israel continued to heavily bombard Lebanon, despite the agreement promising to end all military operations, including in Lebanon.

Lebanese media reported at least 18 people were killed in overnight strikes by Israel, and Israel confirmed four of its soldiers had been killed in southern Lebanon. The fragile United States-Iran peace agreement is hanging by a thread as Israel intensifies its military campaign in southern Lebanon, raising fears it could unravel before formal negotiations are completed.

Lebanese villagers returned to find their homes in ruins after the latest round of strikes. Abed Hachem, a 46-year-old father of three, pointed to the husks of buildings that once housed his neighbors, saying, 'Oh dear... Oh God. There was a building here... here... there was a building here.' More than 3,900 people have been killed since the conflict began in March.

Talks between the U.S. and Iran were called off on Friday due to intense fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel and Hezbollah agreed to renew their ceasefire, according to officials including two regional officials and a U.S. official. The truce was mediated by Qatar, the U.S., and Iran.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun criticized Israel's 'dangerous and reprehensible escalation', warning it threatened to sabotage current efforts to get a cease-fire in place and end the war. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to avenge the killing of troops, saying that he had ordered the military to strike back against Hezbollah 'with full force.'

The U.S.-Iran peace agreement is hanging by a thread as Israel intensifies its military campaign in southern Lebanon. Analysts say Israel’s continued bombardment of southern Lebanon is poised to derail any hope of ending the war in the Middle East.