Vice President JD Vance has delivered an unseemly dressing-down of Israel: “Vance: Israel should not attack its only powerful ally left, must abide by peace in Lebanon,” by Corinne Baum, Reuters, June 18, 2026:
“What the president gets a little frustrated with sometimes is that we seem to be right on the cusp of a major breakthrough in the agreement, and then all of a sudden, there’s a major explosion that goes off in a civilian population center in Beirut, and a lot of people who have nothing to do with Hezbollah lose their lives. That is not acceptable; that is the sort of thing we’ve asked for closer coordination to ensure that doesn’t happen.”…
Vance is referring to IDF attacks on Hezbollah, with an unbecoming petulance, as if Israel was deliberately timing its attacks to prevent a “major breakthrough” in the negotiations. That is nonsense. The IDF attacks are ordinarily in response to attacks by Hezbollah; that is, the timing depends not on Israel but on when Hezbollah chooses to strike.
“What is the benefit that the Iranians get that they didn’t have before? The answer is nothing. If they don’t change their behavior, they don’t get the benefit of the bargain,” he said….
What does Iran get from this agreement, Vance asks. Here’s what: first, an end to the American blockade of Iranian ports. Second, tens of billions of dollars in unfrozen assets. Third, the lifting of sanctions on the sale of Iran’s oil. Fourth, a promise that the US will help raise $300 billion in private funds to be invested in Iran. Fifth, Iran will continue to keep the 140 kg. of highly-enriched uranium it now possesses. Sixth, Iran will keep its ballistic missiles. Seventh, Iran can continue to supply its proxies — Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis — with weapons and he delivery of large sums of money. In fact, on June 18, Iran announced it would be sending a large cash infusion to Hezbollah just as soon as the Iranian assets were unfrozen.
“You’re talking about billions and billions of nuclear infrastructure that the US destroyed. To rebuild that program, they would need a lot of money, and we have them in an economic chokehold right now that we’re not going to release until they fundamentally change their behavior.
What economic chokehold is Vance talking about? If Trump has his way, not only will the blockade of Iranian ports be lifted, but Iran may be able, possibly with Oman, to charge ships sailing through the Strait of Hormuz a transit toll. Furthermore, Iran will be getting tens of billions of dollars in unfrozen assets. And worst of all, Trump intends to help raise $300 billion in private funds to be invested in Iran. Where’s that chokehold?
“That would mean a real inspections regime. That would mean a real enforcement regime. That would mean the destruction of their enriched stockpile.”
Nothing is said in the MoU just made public about Iran being required to destroy its stockpile of enriched uranium. Does Vance have a different MoU text he is reading from?
He also asserted that, under the MoU, it will not be able to have missiles capable of “broadly threaten the entire world.”
Hmm. I have read and re-read the MoU, and I can’t find a single mention of ballistic missiles, thermonuclear missiles, or, indeed, of any missiles.
Vance is loyal to his boss, all bluster and braggadocio, and has to defend the indefensible. But we don’t have to. And let’s not. Let every critic of the MoU, beginning with such outraged Republican Senators as Roger Wicker, Tom Tillis, Ted Cruz, Mike Rogers, and Bill Cassidy, appear on television and radio during the next 60 days, describing in detail what’s wrong with the MoU, noting the need to put into the agreement what Trump left out (as, for example, ballistic missiles), and take out some of the things he kept in, beginning with that preposterous $300 billion fund he wants to raise for Iran from investors in the region. There may still be time — just — to rescue Donald J. Trump from his own folly.
David Lakatos says
Ragging infidel Crusader, eat shit, Vance.
ploome says
lol
Is that Matthew or John?
Horatio says
Vance has been very steadfast in opposing aid to Ukraine. When he was a senator both he and Rubio voted against aid to Ukraine. Now they support this Iran fiasco. In other words Trump’s key statesmen as well as Trump himself have their loyalties in the wrong direction.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
DeSantis for 2028
w/ Hegseth as his running mate
jim says
As Iran instructs Hezbollah to strike Israel Vance seems always be on the cusp of everything big.
I would be surprised if Trump is doing this good cop bad cop with Israel until the midterms are over.
Who really knows?
David Lakatos says
All I got to say is the path to hell is wide.
Walter Sieruk says
The State of Israel have every right and even duty to protect her citizens by fighting back in in self -defense against the dangerous and murderous Muslim terrorists of Hezbollah . As the former US President , James Monroe ,had in a speech ,so rightly and wisely, declared “The right to self-defense never ceases . It is among the most scared , and alike nessasy to nations and individuals.”
gravenimage says
+1
Beans🫘 says
This is the result of the buildup, the growth of the Tucker qatarlson virus. It has spread to other influencers YouTubers protesters. And the people who support trump are now growing and growing in their anti israelism , not necessarily anti semitism, but that also is growing.
I have seen this up front and personal. We are a very very conservative job site, and I get to see all the truckers eventually when they get back to home base. It is mind boggling. I think they drive all day, and then tune into shows like Tucker or Alex jones or something. If you keep listening to it, you’ll eventually agree with these people. Tucker is just too strong, and others pick up his ideas.
Our drivers were all very pro Israel 3 years ago. I would have called you a nutcase if you told me we’d be here. Now, the 1/4 who still support Israel, they are super quiet now. It feels weird for them. I don’t know how to explain it. There are also anti Semitic statements by drivers . Others have now moved on to other garbage like that Fuentes, Sneaker, and Dan Bilzerian.
People are in a trance right now. And where is this headed I do not know. It could up end the conservative movement.
Just a take from what’s going on on the ground with regular conservatives.
roger says
Vance is a supercessionist Christian who believes in theological replacement. For this reason, Israel has no value and significance for him and that Jews missed the bus when they didn’t accept Jesus as the Son of God. He probably sees Jews are Christ killers.
Donald Breyer says
I guess we can expect no less from Tucker Carlson’s sock puppet.
Rubio/DeSantis 2028?
RJ Katz says
I am incredibly disappointed in this administration. They could have save billions of dollars and just left the JCPOA in place. Trump sold out America and Israel
Ralph says
I hate to admit that I have lost faith in my brother Marine, but VP Vance has gone off the rails.
Morticiaa says
The Vance and Trump families should spend mandatory time living in ordinary homes in Northern Israel and in Judea..a week each during onslaught of rocket fire.
THEN THEY WILL BE partially qualified to lecture Israel not NOT to strike back.
gravenimage says
Vance Versus Israel
…………………………………
So dispiriting–and this is only going to ad to the burgeoning antisemitism which has grimly become so common.
Rob Porter says
What we see from JD Vance is his aptitude for telling lies and talking drivel. The only matter upon which Trump was on “the cusp of” was a pitifully disgraceful MOU deal that did not involve America’s partner, Israel, and contained matters that are against iIsrael’s interest. This disgraceful MOU should never have involved Lebanon, but Trump allowed Iran to include it, thereby intending to stop Israel taking military action when Iran’s proxy, Hezbollah, attacks Israel. As if Trump and JD Vance did not understand Iran’s evil intention.
I am so glad that in 1987 South Africa did not have “closer co-ordination’ with the likes of Trump and Vance when a Russian-led communist army of 27,000 descended on south-east Angola to obliterate the pro-Western group, UNITA. South Africa sent in 3,000 soldiers, artillery and other equipment. to help UNITA. It largely destroyed that communist army, destroyed billions of dollars of Russian equipment and killed between 4,800 and 6,000 communist soldiers. Can we imagine Vance’s horror at so many ‘indiscriminate’ deaths?
RJ Katz says
You are absolutely correct! I hope Marco Rubio runs for president against Vancc in the primaries.