‘You Can't Tell A Country It Can't Defend Itself’: JD Vance Targets Israel After Iran Peace Deal

Published 19 June 2026 · india

‘You Can't Tell A Country It Can't Defend Itself’: JD Vance Targets Israel After Iran Peace Deal Published By, Last Updated: June 19, 2026, 09:09

‘You Can't Tell A Country It Can't Defend Itself’: JD Vance Targets Israel After Iran Peace Deal Published By, Last Updated: June 19, 2026, 09:09 IST Seeking to clarify President Donald Trump's position, Vance said Iran would not be expected to surrender its ability to defend itself as part of a future agreement. File photo of US Vice President JD Vance (PTI) US-Iran war: US Vice President JD Vance lashed out at members of Israel’s government, saying that the country is deeply isolated and its leaders have failed to appreciate American diplomatic and military support. Defending Iran’s right to self-defence, Vance said said no sovereign nation can be denied the right to protect itself, drawing a direct comparison between Iran and Israel. “You can’t tell a country – whether Israel or Iran – that they’re not allowed to have any self-defence," Vance said while addressinga press briefing. Seeking to clarify President Donald Trump’s position, Vance said Iran would not be expected to surrender its ability to defend itself as part of a future agreement. “The Iranians don’t give up the right of self-defence in their country.

Israel doesn’t give up the right of self-defence if Hezbollah fires rockets or drones," he said. However, Vance stressed that Washington’s goal is to ensure Iran cannot rebuild its nuclear weapons capability or develop missile systems that could threaten other countries. He also said that the US wants Iran to stop funding regional instability and militant groups. “The Iranians don’t give up the right of self-defense in their country, but we do expect that as part of the final deal, they are not going to be able to build the kind of missiles that can broadly threaten the entire world, and that’s what the President of the United States said yesterday," he added. Vance also took aim at members of Israel’s government who have criticised the Trump administration’s outreach to Iran. “Donald J Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time," he said. “The problem for Israel is not Donald J Trump, and anybody in Israel who thinks their biggest problem is the president of the United States needs to wake up and smell the reality of the situation that country is in." The vice president accused some Israeli officials of failing to appreciate the extent of American military and diplomatic support, noting that much of Israel’s defensive infrastructure has been funded by the United States.

The comments came a day after Trump said it would be unfair for Iran to be denied ballistic missiles if other nations in the region possess them. After signing the landmark US-Iran peace deal, Trump said, “I’m saying that if other countries have them, it’s a little bit unfair for them not to have some." The president said the assessment should be applied in a regional context. “If Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and they all have some, I would say in relative proportion, I think it’s okay," said Trump. The remarks underscored an emerging divide between Washington and sections of Israel’s political leadership over the Iran agreement. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has largely avoided publicly criticising the deal, some members of his coalition have voiced strong opposition. Israeli officials have raised concerns that the agreement does not go far enough in limiting Iran’s military capabilities. Vance, however, made clear that the Trump administration intends to pursue its diplomatic strategy regardless of objections from Israeli hardliners, arguing that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains the United States’ primary objective. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news.