The US vice president urged Donald Trump to pursue negotiations with Tehran, warning that the conflict could damage Republican electoral prospects and deepen divisions within the administration.
WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES — WEB DESK: US Vice President JD Vance has privately criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the war with Iran, reportedly telling President Donald Trump that Netanyahu was wrong on nearly every aspect of the conflict and urging the administration to seek a diplomatic settlement with Tehran.
According to a report by Axios, citing people familiar with the discussions, Vance warned Trump that the war was unpopular among American voters and could undermine Republican electoral prospects in the November 3 midterm elections. The reported disagreement reflects wider divisions within the Trump administration over whether to continue military operations or pursue negotiations.
Trump administration divided over Iran strategy
The disagreements reportedly extend beyond Vance and Netanyahu.
A separate report by The Wall Street Journal said Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth supported continuing the military campaign, while Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior officials favoured diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.
The newspaper also reported that officials had discussed the political consequences of publicly acknowledging continued US military operations against Iran. The discussions reportedly took place in the White House Situation Room in September.
Netanyahu reportedly pushed for renewed US strikes
According to Axios, Netanyahu pressed Trump to resume attacks on Iran before the midterm elections, despite concerns among US officials about the political and military consequences.
Trump considered the possibility of renewed strikes but decided to wait until after the elections, the report said.
The Pentagon has continued preparations for a possible resumption of major combat operations, according to the reports. However, the administration has not publicly announced a decision to launch a new military campaign.
Vance links Republican losses to Iran war
The reported private disagreements became more visible after the Republican Party suffered major losses in the November 3 midterm elections.
On Wednesday, Vance publicly questioned the administration’s approach and linked the electoral setback to the war, the cost of living and concerns about US foreign policy.
“The reason we lost is the war,” Vance wrote on social media, according to Reuters.
The Associated Press reported that Vance also identified dissatisfaction over the US relationship with Israel as one of the issues affecting Republican voters.
Trump acknowledged that the conflict had contributed to higher petrol prices and may have affected the election results. However, he defended his decision to launch the military campaign, arguing that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remained essential.
Trump faces military and diplomatic choices
The election results have added pressure on the administration to reconsider its approach to Iran.
Reports describe several options under discussion, including renewed military strikes, a negotiated agreement with Tehran or maintaining economic and naval pressure while pursuing further diplomatic contacts.
Qatari mediators have been involved in efforts to prevent renewed fighting and facilitate negotiations. However, no comprehensive new US-Iran agreement has been announced in the reports available at publication time.
