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US Vice President JD Vance delivered a blunt warning to Israeli critics of the US-Iran agreement on Thursday, defending President Donald Trump amid mounting backlash in Israel and saying Washington remained the country’s only powerful ally. His remarks came after reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his political allies were privately furious over the deal aimed at ending the conflict with Iran.Speaking at a White House briefing, Vance defended the agreement amid criticism from critics, who have argued that it fails to adequately address Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes and could constrain Israel’s military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.Responding to reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was unhappy with the agreement, Vance said he had not heard such comments directly from Netanyahu but criticised members of the Israeli cabinet.Vance said, “My message to them would be twofold. No. 1: Donald J. Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time.”He also added, “If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world.”The vice president also highlighted US military support for Israel, saying, “Two-thirds of the defensive weapons that have protected Israel have been built by American hands and paid for by American tax dollars.” The US currently provides Israel with roughly $4 billion in annual military assistance, reported Reuters. However, Netanyahu’s office or the Israeli foreign ministry have not responded to the comments yet.“The problem for Israel is not Donald J. Trump and anybody in Israel who thinks their biggest problem is the president of the United States needs to wake up and smell the reality of the situation that country is in”, Vance said.Israeli officials, speaking anonymously to Reuters, have said the agreement did not resolve concerns over Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes. Netanyahu later said Israel valued its relationship with Washington but would continue maintaining a security presence in southern Lebanon.The dispute intensified after Vance criticised Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich in an interview with The New York Times.Vance said in the interview, “What is your exact proposal? You’re a country of 9 million people. You can’t just kill your way out of solving every single national security problem that you have.”He also described a ‘weird panic’ and ‘freakout’ in Israel over the agreement, adding, “That’s not how the deal is written.”Meanwhile, the White House had said Vance would not travel to Switzerland for a planned round of technical talks with Iran due to logistical challenges. Officials quoted by Reuters said negotiations on implementation details were continuing, while oil shipments resumed through the Strait of Hormuz following the easing of restrictions and the tentative ceasefire.
