Vance downplays Netanyahu meeting over Iran war: ‘He didn’t confront me’

The meeting took place last week, and Axios reported that Netanyahu discussed Vance’s criticism of the Israeli government and Israel’s place in the Republican Party. In March, the pair also had an intense phone call in which the vice president said Netanyahu was far too optimistic about the possible outcomes of the war.

Since becoming the leader of negotiations with Iran, Vance has frequently scrutinized Israel‘s role in the conflict. He has accused the Israeli government of undermining ceasefire agreements and promoting smear campaigns against him, as well as hitting back at Israeli criticism of the memorandum of understanding signed in June.

“What is your exact proposal?” the vice president said in an interview with the New York Times then.

“You’re a country of 9 million people,” he said. “You can’t just kill your way out of solving every single national security problem that you have.” That same day, he warned the Netanyahu government against “attacking the only powerful ally that [it has] anywhere left in the entire world.”

On Wednesday, Vance explained that relationships with allies can be complex.

“Israel has been a great partner,” he said. “They’re an ally of the United States of America. But like France or Britain or any other ally of the United States of America, we sometimes have differences of opinion, and I think that the American media is fascinated by this dynamic. … When our interests are aligned with Israel, we talk about how to accomplish those shared objectives. When my viewpoint is averse to the prime minister of Israel, we have a frank conversation about that.”

Vance was also asked about how he became the face of peace talks with Iran. President Donald Trump previously said that if a deal with Iran fails, he will “blame JD.”

“If they want to make me own the effort to try to bring this war to a successful conclusion, I’m happy to let them make me own it,” he said. “I am absolutely trying to do that.”

The vice president said while he is happy to be the poster child for peace talks, they can often be complex, adding that it may be a messy road to a permanent deal.

“That sometimes requires one step forward, two steps back, then three steps forward and one step back,” Vance said of negotiations with Iran. “I can certainly understand the American people are maybe looking at this and they say, ‘Well, it seems like we’re making progress, and then it seems like we’re not.’”

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Vance added that Iran can be “difficult” and that there are people in its government who wish to see the war carry on.

“I do think that where we will ultimately land, it’s going to be messy, and it’s going to take some time to get there,” he said.