Vance driving Trump’s tougher line against Netanyahu – report

President Trump reportedly cracking down on opposition to the emerging Iran deal, threatening to fire any administration officials who refuse to back an interim agreement.

By World Israel News Staff

Vice President JD Vance has played a central role in shaping President Donald Trump’s increasingly critical view of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to an Israel Hayom report on tensions inside the White House over the emerging US-Iran agreement.

Israel Hayom reported Sunday that Trump has adopted a narrative promoted by Vance and other senior envoys involved in the Iran talks, according to which Netanyahu has been trying to derail the agreement through Israeli military action in Lebanon and Iran.

The report said Vance, US envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner have supported reaching a memorandum of understanding with Iran, arguing in part that the Iranian regime is unlikely to fall soon and that Gulf states, especially Qatar, have pushed for a deal.

By contrast, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and other officials have reportedly argued that Iran is weakening under economic pressure and that Washington should intensify pressure rather than ease sanctions.

“The debate has been settled. Those who oppose it may pay a personal price,” a senior US official told Israel Hayom, according to the report.

The report said Vance has continued to say publicly in White House briefings that Israel’s right to defend itself will be preserved but has privately urged Trump to restrain Netanyahu after Israeli strikes that Washington feared could disrupt the Iran talks.

According to Israel Hayom, Vance has argued that Netanyahu is deliberately trying to sabotage the emerging deal. The report said Trump has accepted that view, contributing to harsher public and private criticism of the Israeli prime minister.

Trump’s anger burst into public view after an Israeli strike in Beirut that came shortly before the US and Iran were expected to sign an agreement.

In an interview with Axios, Trump said the strike had delayed the signing and sharply criticized Netanyahu.

“It is so bad — I couldn’t believe it,” Trump said.

Trump acknowledged that Hezbollah had attacked Israel first, but said there had been no major damage and accused Netanyahu of poor judgment in ordering the strike.

“Why did Bibi have to do a f***ing attack?” Trump said, according to Axios. “I was so pissed off.”

The confrontation came as Trump moved toward an agreement with Iran that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, ease some economic pressure on Tehran and launch a 60-day period for further negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program.

Critics within the administration fear the deal will give Iran sanctions relief too early.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly warned that lifting sanctions would be dangerous because reimposing them would be difficult, but the report said his concerns only slightly changed the terms.

Sunday’s report also said Trump may fire officials who oppose the memorandum or the negotiations with Iran, as the administration seeks to prevent internal dissent from undermining the diplomatic effort.

Former senior Mossad official Oded Ailam sharply criticized the US approach, telling Israel Hayom that “Trump is acting badly and against the American interest, not only the Israeli one.”

“This is an American game being managed with utter foolishness,” Ailam said.

The dispute reflects a broader shift in the Trump-Netanyahu relationship as Washington tries to close a deal with Tehran and Israel weighs the risks of sanctions relief, limits on military action and Iran’s regional influence.

Netanyahu has not publicly attacked Trump over the reported terms of the agreement. Israeli critics of the deal, however, have warned that easing pressure on Tehran could allow Iran to rebuild military capabilities and increase support for proxy groups, including Hezbollah.