Vance says US policy must serve American interests first

US Vice President JD Vance said that there are disagreements between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over how to bring the conflict with Iran to an end.

Speaking during a television interview, Vance said it was natural for allies, including Israel, to seek to influence US policy, but stressed that American leaders must remain focused on their own national interests.

Vance said policymakers must be "extremely careful" to ensure they are pursuing policies that serve the interests of the United States rather than those of another country.

His comments came after he criticised Israeli officials who attacked the memorandum of understanding reached between Washington and Tehran. He also confirmed that Trump and Netanyahu have differences over the precise approach to ending the war with Iran. 

US Vice President JD Vance speaks during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, DC, 18 June 2026 (Ken Cedeno/AFP)