Vance warnt israelische Kritiker des Iran-Deals: Bündnis nicht gefährden

US Vice President JD Vance has sharply rebuked members of Israel's cabinet who had criticized the new US-Iran agreement, delivering his remarks during a White House press briefing. The unusually blunt tone directed at a close American ally drew significant international attention, particularly because Israel and the United States had cooperated closely during the recent war with Iran. Vance told the Israeli critics to "wake up" and warned them against attacking what he called the "only powerful ally" the United States has left anywhere in the world. The comments directly affect relations between the Trump administration and the Israeli government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and highlight growing friction between the two countries following the end of active hostilities with Iran.

The controversy stems from a memorandum of understanding signed by President Donald Trump and Iran. The agreement establishes a framework for ending the nearly four-month war, sets a 60-day timeline for further negotiations, and includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway critical to global oil trade. The timing of the signing was notable: a formal ceremony had originally been planned for Friday in Switzerland, but Trump unexpectedly chose to sign the document during a dinner in Versailles on the sidelines of the G7 summit. Several observers interpreted this abrupt move as a sign of Trump's eagerness to close the chapter on the Iran war quickly.

Following the signing, the US military command Centcom reported that at least a dozen ships were allowed to pass through the previously enforced naval blockade of Iranian ports. Vance confirmed this to reporters, saying the United States was honoring its part of the agreement's early provisions. The release of the ships is seen as a practical first signal that both sides intend to follow through on the deal, even though the substantive negotiations over details are expected to unfold during the 60-day window.

Alongside these diplomatic steps, Trump publicly pushed back against critics of the deal. He described them as "fools" who were either jealous, bad people, or stupid, pointing to record stock market highs and falling oil prices as evidence of his policy's success. The forceful language underscores how strongly the administration is defending the agreement against doubts about its effectiveness.

In Israel, Netanyahu has not directly commented publicly on the deal. He did, however, call for preserving the "vital relationship" with the United States, without explicitly addressing the agreement itself. Some reports suggest Netanyahu has sought to use diplomatic channels to influence the terms of the deal, including provisions relating to Lebanon and Hezbollah. These efforts have been described as attempts by Israel to shape the negotiation process from its own perspective, though no official Israeli position on the agreement has yet emerged.

On the Iranian side, Mojtaba Khamenei, a prominent figure close to the country's leadership, criticized Trump's approach, describing his behavior in the lead-up to the deal as "desperate" and suggesting Trump had used various forms of leverage to secure the agreement. Trump, for his part, defended the release of frozen Iranian assets as part of the arrangement.

International coverage has frequently compared the current agreement to the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated under President Barack Obama. Trump insists his deal is superior to his predecessor's, while critics argue he has secured comparatively less while conceding more to Tehran. A detailed comparison of the two agreements shows different priorities: the Obama-era deal focused primarily on nuclear restrictions, whereas the current arrangement is more oriented toward ending military conflict and reopening strategic waterways.

It remains unclear how relations between Washington and Jerusalem will evolve in the coming weeks. Trump stated on Truth Social that the United States expects a "complete ceasefire on all fronts," including Lebanon, Hezbollah, and Israel, and urged all regional actors not to disrupt the negotiation process. Whether the 60-day negotiation period will lead to a lasting agreement, and how Israel will position itself in the longer term, remains uncertain. Vance had earlier also mentioned a possible trip of his own to Switzerland for further talks with Iranian representatives, though no specific date was given.