United States Vice President JD Vance has alleged that some individuals within the Israeli government orchestrated a covert campaign to undermine him over the Trump administration’s efforts to negotiate a peace agreement with Iran.
Vance made the claim during an interview on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, aired on Wednesday, where he discussed the ongoing debate over US policy toward Iran and Israel’s role in influencing American politics.
According to the Vice President, certain Israeli officials opposed the administration’s diplomatic approach to Iran and sought to derail the negotiations through a coordinated media and public influence campaign.
“There are certainly certain people within the Israeli government who hate the deal,” Vance said, adding that there was evidence of “a very discreet, extremely well-funded campaign” aimed at undermining the negotiations.
He referenced a recent Time magazine report alleging that former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale was connected to an Israeli government-funded campaign that paid conservative influencers to oppose the US-Iran ceasefire and criticize officials supporting negotiations.
Vance claimed many of those involved in the campaign had targeted him personally through social media attacks and media leaks because of his role in advancing the administration’s diplomatic objectives.
“They’re attacking me obsessively, saying that we should not be negotiating with Iran. We should just keep the military campaign going indefinitely,” he said.
The Vice President dismissed allegations that he was influenced by foreign governments or political commentators, insisting that his actions were guided solely by President Donald Trump’s directives and US national interests.
“Our objective is to ensure Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon while preserving the free flow of oil and gas,” Vance stated.
While acknowledging that allies often seek to influence US policy, Vance said his concern was when such efforts affected the judgment of American leaders.
“People are always going to try to influence the United States of America, whether they’re allies or adversaries. What bothers me is when American leadership allows that influence to affect their judgment,” he said.
Vance also rejected accusations that he holds anti-Israel or antisemitic views, describing himself as a “reasonable moderate” in the ongoing debate over US-Israel relations.
“I have a ton of respect for the Jewish religion. I’ve never heard a compelling argument for why I’m an antisemite, even though I’ve been accused of it by many people,” he said.
He emphasized that Israel remains a close US ally but argued that, like other allies, the two countries would not always share identical interests.
“My attitude is that Israel is an ally like France or the UK. There will be areas where we agree and areas where our interests diverge. I care about America first,” Vance said.
Responding to comments by podcast host Joe Rogan about foreign influence in American politics, Vance acknowledged concerns over attempts by various countries to shape US public opinion, but maintained that some individuals within the Israeli government had specifically sought to prolong the conflict with Iran by influencing American discourse.
He added that while he enjoys positive relationships with several Israeli officials, including Israel’s ambassador to the United States, he believes certain actors within the country’s political establishment were working to steer US policy away from diplomacy and toward an indefinite military campaign.