Vance dismisses Israeli concerns over Iran deal as 'weird panic'

Israeli officials, including allies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have openly condemned the deal for failing to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions or restrict its influence over Hezbollah in Lebanon. Vance rejected these critiques, arguing that the agreement remains contingent on Iranian behavioral changes and that the U.S. would maintain sanctions if state-sponsored terrorism continues.

Addressing far-right ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, who have been among the most aggressive detractors, Vance challenged them to offer a viable alternative to his administration’s strategy. He suggested that Israel’s reliance on military force cannot resolve every national security threat, especially for a nation of nine million people. This friction follows President Donald Trump’s own recent comments at the G7 summit, where he suggested that Netanyahu should adopt a less aggressive posture in his campaign against Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.