Vance accuses Israel of covert influence campaign to derail Iran diplomacy

US Vice President JD Vance has accused members of the Israeli government of funding a discreet, well-funded digital campaign designed to sway American public opinion against a recent interim peace agreement with Iran. Speaking on the Joe Rogan podcast, Vance alleged that individuals within the Israeli system were attempting to derail negotiations and keep the war going indefinitely, while also targeting him personally with "vicious" attacks.

The remarks mark a significant escalation in the public rift between Washington and Jerusalem. Vance cited a report published by Time Magazine on Monday, which alleged that a former Trump campaign manager was hired on behalf of Israel to run a digital campaign influencing US views on Israel and the Iran war. Vance stated he believes "beyond a shadow of a doubt" that without this Israeli influence, the US would not have engaged in the most recent hostilities with Iran.

The US-Iran interim peace agreement, reached last month, has largely unravelled following escalating attacks by both nations in the past week. Vance defended the deal, noting that President Donald Trump believes strongly that Iran should not possess a nuclear weapon, a position Vance supports separately from any Israeli influence. However, the diplomatic effort has faced significant opposition in Israel, contributing to the current instability.

Al Jazeera reporter Patty Culhane suggested the campaign was likely aimed at influencing President Donald Trump’s MAGA base, explaining Vance’s choice of platform to reach young male demographics. Vance acknowledged that allies and adversaries alike seek to influence US policy but expressed concern when such operations affect American political judgement. He claimed the Israeli-linked effort targeted him personally for his diplomatic outreach, stating, "People are attacking me viciously for quite literally trying to accomplish the negotiation objective that the president set for the country."

Former Israeli diplomat Alon Pinkas described Vance’s accusations as "unprecedented" and "shocking," noting that no sitting US vice-president has previously accused Israel of openly running such a campaign. Pinkas, now a columnist at The New Republic, told Al Jazeera that while disagreements and friction are common, the vociferous nature of Vance’s claims indicates the two nations are "not on the same page" at present. The Israeli government did not immediately comment on Vance’s remarks.

Separately, Vance weighed in on the controversy surrounding the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, alleging that Epstein had unspecified high-level connections to both US and Israeli intelligence agencies. This comment adds a separate layer of controversy to the interview, which also highlighted Vance’s previous criticism of Israel, including a June statement that President Trump is Israel’s only ally.