US Vice President JD Vance Confronts Israeli PM Netanyahu Over Iran War Claims
In a tense phone call on Monday, US Vice President JD Vance reportedly took Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to task for overstating the possibility that the ongoing US-Israeli bombing campaign in Iran could lead to regime change. According to a Friday report by Axios, citing both a US source and an Israeli source, the discussion highlighted significant disagreements between the two allies regarding the war's objectives and feasibility.
Netanyahu's Pre-War Optimism Under Scrutiny
The US source, quoted by Axios, revealed that before the conflict escalated, Netanyahu had presented the operation to US President Donald Trump as relatively straightforward, with regime change being a more likely outcome than it has proven to be. "Before the war, Bibi really sold it to the president as being easy, as regime change being a lot likelier than it was. And the VP was clear-eyed about some of those statements," the source said, using Netanyahu's nickname. This criticism underscores growing concerns within the US administration about the accuracy of initial assessments provided by Israeli officials.
Perceptions of Vance's Hawkishness and Negotiation Role
US officials also believe that some Israeli counterparts view Vice President Vance as insufficiently hawkish, leading to efforts to undermine his authority as he takes a lead role in talks aimed at ending the war. A senior US official emphasized Vance's critical position in negotiations, stating, "if the Iranians can’t strike a deal with Vance, they don’t get a deal. He’s the best they’re gonna get." However, an administration official pushed back against narratives suggesting Vance is overly eager to secure a deal and withdraw from Iran, describing such reports as part of "an Israeli op against JD."
Allegations of Media Manipulation and Denials
Vance's advisers suspect that his Israeli critics were behind a Hebrew media report claiming he yelled at Netanyahu during the call about Israel's failure to control settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Both US and Israeli officials have denied this allegation, but it adds to the atmosphere of mistrust and strategic discord between the two nations. As an Iraq War veteran, Vance has long expressed skepticism about prolonged US military engagements, particularly in the Middle East, and was one of the most cautious voices in Trump's administration regarding the Iran war's duration, goals, and impact on US resources.
Vance's Public Stance and Broader Context
Despite his private reservations, Vance has publicly aligned with the administration in supporting the bombing campaign launched by the US and Israel on February 28, approximately six weeks after Iran's crackdown on anti-regime protesters. Previous reports indicated that the head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency had assessed that a successful operation could spark an uprising toppling the regime, with Netanyahu discussing this plan with the White House pre-war. According to The New York Times, Netanyahu is now frustrated that this plan has not materialized and that Trump could potentially end the conflict abruptly.
