JD Vance alleges 'discreet, well-funded campaign' seeks to derail Iran deal, influence US policy

U.S. Vice President JD Vance accused members of the Israeli government and what he described as a “well-funded” Israeli influence campaign of attempting to undermine U.S. negotiations with Iran and targeting him personally over his role in the talks.

During a 3-hour interview on “The Joe Rogan Experience," Vance said he has seen a “very discreet, extremely well-funded campaign to try to derail the negotiation and try to derail the deal.”

Vance said he had been attacked for pursuing the negotiating objectives set by U.S. President Donald Trump. “Those people are attacking me viciously for quite literally trying to accomplish the negotiation objective that the president set for the country.”

Vance cited a report in TIME magazine that alleged that former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale was involved in an Israeli-funded influence effort aimed at shaping public opinion around the negotiations and a potential ceasefire. Vance also implied that this campaign had targeted him personally. 

When asked by Rogan how the influence campaign was being conducted, Vance responded, “Oh, it's social media posts. It's, you know, they're leaking to reporters. They are attacking, obsessively saying that we should not be negotiating with Iran, that we should just keep the military campaign going indefinitely.” 

He said the social media influencers are accusing him of being influenced by a foreign agent. 

“People have come after me and said that I'm influenced by Qatar, that I am influenced by foreign governments, that I take my marching orders from Tucker Carlson, there's just so much nonsense out there,” the vice president stated. 

Vance told Rogan that he doesn’t object to foreign governments attempting to influence American policy for their own interests. 

“I don't actually mind that certain elements of the Israeli government want to criticize the deal or have disagreements about the deal. I don't even mind an effort to try to influence; foreign governments try to influence the United States all the time,” Vance stated. 

However, he said his problem is with U.S. officials who allow themselves to be influenced. 

“What bothers me is actually when Americans – meaning American leadership – allow that influence to affect their judgment and to affect what they are advocating for. That's what really bothers me,” he claimed. 

Vance alleged that some members of the Israeli government oppose negotiations and are seeking to prolong the conflict with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

“But I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that there have been people within the Israeli government who are trying to actually shift us away from that policy because they want to continue the military campaign,” he said. 

Vance qualified his criticism, saying, “There are people within their government that I love, I have good relationships with. I hope, and I don't think that they're part of this. The ambassador of Israel to the United States is actually a really good guy,” Vance said, referring Yechiel Leiter. 

However, Vance said some Israelis are interested only in continuing the war without a clear end goal.

“There are some people within their system, we know beyond a shadow of a doubt, who are manipulating and trying to change American public opinion to keep the war going on indefinitely,” Vance stated. “Again, not towards any objective, but just indefinitely.” 

Vance argued that continued bombing would not achieve U.S. objectives.

“You can bomb them. You can take away their radar. You can take away some of their drones and some of their missiles, but it’s just too easy to fire at ships in the straits,” he said. “So, you’ve got to actually be willing to talk and to try to figure out the problem.” 

The vice president also said Israeli pressure did not influence President Trump’s decision to launch military action against Iran.

“I think the president, completely separate from any influence from Israel, believes very strongly, and again I agree with this, that Iran should not have a nuclear weapon,” Vance said. 

Vance also appeared to suggest that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein had ties to the “highest levels” of Israeli intelligence, though he later acknowledged there was no evidence to support such a connection.

“He clearly had connections to the upper, the highest levels, of American intelligence. He clearly had connections to the highest levels of Israeli intelligence,” Vance told Rogan. 

Later in the interview, Vance noted that Epstein was not connected to Israel’s current coalition government.

“Epstein seemed to be connected to the elements of the Israeli deep state that were left of center,” Vance said. He also noted that in the U.S., Epstein was “connected across the board; he had Republican friends, he had Democratic friends. He had much deeper connections to the Israeli left of center than right of center. I don’t know what that means.” 

The interview with Joe Rogan continues a pattern in which Vance has made comments that critics have argued echo antisemitic conspiracy narratives involving Jewish influence and alleged control over governments, while also saying he does not oppose Israel or have a problem with the Israeli government.

His remarks are likely to fuel concerns among some pro-Israel observers in Israel and the United States about how Vance’s views on Israel could evolve if he were elected president.