Vance warns Israel: "Your only ally"
JD Vance launches an unusually harsh attack on Israel.
He warns the country against criticizing its only ally.
- Anyone in Israel who thinks their biggest problem is the US president needs to wake up and face reality, he says.
The White House describes the agreement with Iran as a great victory.
But many in Israel are dissatisfied with the 14 points on peace and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz - including several politicians in Netanyahu's government.
Critics say that the agreement gives Iran economic relief while at the same time the negotiations on Iran's nuclear program - which many see as the greatest security threat - are postponed, writes the New York Times.
Now US Vice President JD Vance launches a harsh attack and defends the agreement.
"Wouldn't attack..."
- If I were in the Israeli government's cabinet, I might not attack the only powerful ally I have left in the world, Vance said today at a press conference at the White House.
Israel's leaders need to "wake up and face reality," he continued.
- Donald J Trump is the only head of state in the world who sympathizes with the nation of Israel at this moment.
He also added that "two-thirds" of the weapons that have defended Israel over the past three months have been paid for by American taxpayers.
Iran: Then the agreement is broken
According to the agreement, Israel must immediately cease hostilities in Lebanon - and Iran already said on Thursday night that they will see it as a violation of the agreement if Israel continues to attack Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says at the same time that the country's military will remain in its "security zone" in southern Lebanon as long as necessary, writes the Times of Israel.
Despite repeated criticism from Trump, Israel carried out new attacks in southern Lebanon on Wednesday. Hezbollah has also carried out counterattacks, writes the BBC.
Lebanese people search for dead under the rubble after returning to the village of Touline in southern Lebanon. Photo: Mohammed Zaatari /AP/TT
Blockade lifted
On Thursday, JD Vance also confirmed that the US has lifted its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Now the sea route to and from Iranian ports will be free.
In the future, Iran and the US will conclude a more detailed agreement on the strait.
- We believe in international sea routes being free of tariffs, says Vance.
But Iran, in turn, states that it has established an authority to control traffic through the Strait of Hormuz – and that in 60 days it will begin charging a fee for passing ships, reports CNN.
Iran's Supreme Leader: Desperation
At the same time, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has made a first comment on the agreement.
He believes that Trump concluded the agreement "in desperation".
- Responsible officials. . . have made extensive efforts - and of course it was the American president who, in desperation, used all forms of pressure to achieve this, he says in a statement according to TT.
