Netanyahu dismisses rumor of rift with Trump, pushes back on Vance’s remarks

Vice President Vance cautioned Israeli officials against publicly criticizing President Trump over the Iran talks.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected reports Sunday that relations with President Donald Trump have deteriorated over Iran and disputed comments by Vice President JD Vance, saying the United States and Israel remain united in their approach to preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

In an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu said speculation about a split between himself and President Trump was unfounded despite ongoing US negotiations with Iran.

“I don’t think there’s a rift,” Netanyahu said. “I think America has no greater ally than Israel, and Israel has no greater ally than the United States.”

He said differences between allies should not be mistaken for a breakdown in relations, emphasizing that both governments remain focused on the same strategic objective.

While acknowledging that each leader is responsible for advancing his own country’s interests, Netanyahu said cooperation between Washington and Jerusalem remains overwhelmingly strong.

“President Trump is the leader of the United States. He does what’s good for America. I am the leader of Israel, the one and only Jewish state. I do what’s good for Israel,” Netanyahu said. “Ninety-nine percent of the time we see eye-to-eye.”

The prime minister reiterated that Israel’s position on Iran’s nuclear ambitions would not change regardless of the outcome of the negotiations.

“But I can tell you this, deal or no deal, as long as I’m prime minister, Iran will not have a nuclear weapon,” he said.

Netanyahu said both countries continue to seek the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

“We want to see Iran give up its nuclear weapons program,” he said. “We want to see the nuclear-enriched material removed. We want to see the enrichment sites for nuclear materials dismantled.”

Responding to remarks by Vice President Vance, who cautioned Israeli officials against publicly criticizing President Trump over the Iran talks and described the United States as the “only powerful ally” Israel has left, Netanyahu said he respected the vice president but disagreed with some of his views.

Netanyahu clearly does not agree that America is Israel’s only significant ally.

“First of all, I respect JD Vance. We have a very good relationship, but it doesn’t mean that I agree with everything that he says,” Netanyahu said.

Asked whether he was concerned about negotiations continuing beyond an August deadline, Netanyahu declined to judge the diplomatic effort before it concludes.

“I would say it’s not over. I would judge it when it’s over,” he said.

Netanyahu also reaffirmed his support for President Trump, calling him “a great, the greatest friend we’ve ever had in the White House,” and adding, “I stand by that completely.”

Benjamin NetanyahuDonald TrumpJD Vance