WASHINGTON, 14 June. - (ANA)- US Vice President JD Vance's acknowledgement that American and Israeli interests "diverge" on Iran reflects an "unavoidable reality" that could bring Washington into direct conflict with Israel if a deal with Tehran is reached, an analyst told The New Arab.

 

Speaking after renewed clashes between Israel and Iran over the weekend, Vance said on Monday the United States and Israel do not share identical objectives when it comes to Iran, highlighting what appears to be a growing gap between the Donald Trump administration's diplomatic ambitions and Israel's military approach.

 

"If the US manages to reach a deal with Tehran, it will face a crisis with Israel. There is no way around that," Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, told The New Arab.

 

Parsi said Vance's remarks were significant because they publicly acknowledged a reality that is rarely stated so directly in Washington.

 

"Vance is asserting that in such a scenario, it is America's interest that must guide the White House's decision-making, not Israel's," he said.

 

"This is common sense, yet in Washington, it is rarely articulated in such a direct and unapologetic fashion," he added.

 

In an interview with Fox News on Monday, Vance said the United States and Israel had different priorities regarding Iran.

 

"The United States and Israel have some situations where our interests diverge," Vance said.

 

"I think where the president has been very clear here is that while Israel obviously has some objectives that it has, the United States' main objective in Iran is to ensure that Iran does not have a nuclear weapon."

 

"Now, Israel may like that, they may not like that, but fundamentally we think this is in the best interest of the United States of America."

 

His comments came amid reports of mounting frustration within the Trump administration over Israeli actions that could jeopardise ongoing negotiations with Tehran.

 

According to multiple reports, Trump has both publicly and privately warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against launching further strikes that could derail diplomatic efforts.

 

Israel had reportedly planned follow-up attacks after responding to Iran's recent ballistic missile strikes, but Trump intervened to discourage further escalation.

 

According to Axios, Trump warned Netanyahu: "Bibi, you better be careful, or you will be on your own very soon."

 

The Financial Times separately reported Trump as saying Netanyahu "won't have any choice" but to accept a US-Iran agreement, adding that he ultimately "calls the shots".

 

The United States has been engaged in negotiations aimed at ending the conflict with Iran that began on 28 February.

 

Talks, mediated by regional states including Pakistan, have continued for months following an April ceasefire that halted large-scale hostilities.

 

While sporadic clashes have continued since then, the latest exchange of fire between Israel and Iran marked the most serious confrontation since the ceasefire.

 

The escalation was triggered by Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, prompting retaliatory Iranian attacks and raising concerns that the conflict could once again spiral into a broader regional war.   - (ANA) - 

 

AB/ANA/14 June 2026 - - -