Vice President JD Farris Criticizes Israeli Officials Opposing Iran Deal and Warns Against Attacking Sole Ally

## Vice President JD Farris Defends the U.S.–Iran Interim Agreement

U.S. Vice President JD Farris defended the interim peace agreement reached this week between Washington and Tehran, despite criticism from both American and Israeli circles. Critics argue the deal fails to curb Iran’s missile program, offers no clear roadmap for dismantling its nuclear facilities, and restricts Israel’s freedom to conduct operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

## Warning to Israeli Leaders

In response to a report that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was angry about the agreement, Farris told reporters at the White House that he had not heard such a stance from the prime minister. He condemned unnamed members of the Israeli government for attacking the deal and President Donald J. Trump personally.

> “My message to those officials is two‑fold,” Farris said. “Donald J. Trump is the only head of state in the world right now who sympathises with Israel.”

He added, “If I were a member of the Israeli government, I would not criticize the only strong ally left to me in the entire world.”

## Emphasising U.S. Military Support

Farris reminded Israeli officials that two‑thirds of the defensive weapons that protect Israel were made in the United States with American taxpayers’ money. The United States currently provides Israel with roughly $4 billion in annual military aid, and the two countries are negotiating a new assistance package.

He cautioned that Israel’s real problem is not President Trump; anyone in Israel who believes the U.S. president is its biggest obstacle must “recognise the reality of the situation their country faces.”

No comment has been issued yet by the Netanyahu office or the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

## Rising Tensions Between Washington and Tel Aviv

Senior Israeli officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, warned that the agreement harms Israel because it does not address concerns over Iran’s nuclear program and ballistic missiles—a view they say enjoys broad consensus among Israeli leadership.

During his closing remarks at the G7 summit in France, President Trump sought to soothe Israeli anxieties, suggesting that Netanyahu could adopt a “more flexible approach” toward Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon.

Netanyahu’s first public response since the deal’s announcement affirmed Israel’s appreciation for its relationship with the United States but asserted that Israel will continue to occupy southern Lebanon to protect the security of residents near its northern border. He stated:

> “Maintaining the security strip in southern Lebanon is essential, and we will not withdraw as long as Israel’s security needs require it.”

On Thursday, Israel released a map showing an expanded zone of military control in southern Lebanon, emphasizing that attacks outside this area are not excluded, thereby challenging the terms of the U.S.–Iran agreement.

## Clash with National‑Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir

Right‑wing National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, a key figure in the Netanyahu coalition, launched a fierce critique of the U.S.–Iran deal, insisting that Israeli forces will remain in Lebanon.

In an earlier interview with The New York Times, Vice President Farris rebuked Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Smotrich, asking:

> “What exactly is your proposal? You are a state of nine million people. You cannot simply rely on killing as a solution to every national‑security challenge you face.”

He added, “I find all this panic in Israel somewhat strange because, in my view, it stems from a lack of confidence, and I believe the United States has earned the confidence of this region.”

Ben Gvir responded on X (formerly Twitter):

> “This is the proposal… dealing with 21st‑century Nazis as the United States dealt with 20th‑century Nazis.”

## Trump Calls for a Full Cease‑Fire

Following Farris’s statements, President Trump posted on social media urging all Middle‑Eastern parties to allow negotiations and declaring an expectation of a complete cease‑fire on every front, including Lebanon, Hezbollah, and Israel.

Source: France 24 / Reuters