US Vice-President JD Vance has sharply rebuked Israeli government critics of the US deal with Iran, saying the cabinet members should remember that two-thirds of the defensive weapons that have protected Israel have been built by American hands and paid for by American tax dollars.
Vance, asked about a report that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was fuming over the agreement, told reporters at the White House: "If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have left anywhere in the entire world." The US provides Israel about $4 billion in military assistance annually.
Meanwhile, Iran announced plans to introduce a system of maritime fees in the Strait of Hormuz in two months, following a 60-day negotiation period triggered by the signing of a memorandum of understanding.
Vance Defends Deal Amid Criticism
Vance lashed out at Israeli critics, emphasizing that Trump is Israel's only ally left in the world. "The problem for Israel is not Donald J. Trump, and anybody in Israel who thinks their biggest problem is the president of the United States needs to wake up and smell the reality of the situation that country is in," he said.
He was defending the deal signed this week to end the war with Iran, which critics in the US and Israel have denounced for failing to curb Iran's missile program and providing no clear path to dismantling its nuclear facilities, while constraining Israel in its war with Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.
Iran Plans Fees on Strait of Hormuz
Tehran has said the Strait of Hormuz is under its control and that a European plan for a naval mission to escort ships through the waterway would not be welcome. The warning came as Iran, claiming a historic victory over the US, announced plans to introduce fees for passing the vital energy route after the 60-day negotiating period.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu reportedly said Israel would maintain a "security zone" in southern Lebanon for as long as needed, while Trump said the US expected a complete ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon, Hezbollah, and Israel.
Other US Politics News
In other developments, the Trump administration quietly redirected $352 million in federal funds designated for the Secret Service toward the president's controversial White House ballroom project, despite promises that construction would be financed by private donations.
Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook faced more than $1.3 million in legal and security fees after coming under attack from the Trump administration, according to ethics disclosures.
The administration reversed its decision to dismantle a $368 million deep-sea observation system after an outcry from lawmakers and ocean experts.
US federal workers continue battling algae in Washington's reflecting pool, a fight the Trump administration compared to its war with Iran. After Trump ordered a $14.2 million refurbishment, the administration encountered a formidable foe: algae.
In other news, the Supreme Court sided with a Texas marijuana user who wants to legally own a gun. Democratic socialist Janeese Lewis George is set to become the next mayor of Washington DC. A California proposal to impose a wealth tax on billionaires qualified for the November ballot. Pete Hegseth announced a review of the US military presence in Europe, threatening to cut forces in countries spending least on defense.
