While the United States and Israel share many interests, Vice President J.D. Vance said America's first objectives in the Middle East may diverge from Israel when it comes to a settlement with Iran.
The current conflict stems from President Donald Trump pre-emptively striking Iran on Feb. 28, alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Israeli Defense Forces.
“If we get to this deal, it's going to be a home run for the American people,” Vance said.
“Israel may like that, they may not like that, but fundamentally we think this is in the best interest of the United States of America,” Vance said of the divergence in interests.
Iran fired a barrage of missiles at Israel on June 7 and the Israel Defense Forces struck Iranian military targets in western and central Iran on June 8.
While Trump publicly called on Israel to hold fire against Iran, Netanyahu said this week that Israel will respond with force if Iran attacks again.
Despite the recent incidents of fighting, Vance said he believes an accord is possible.
“Over the last year and a half, we've created this space necessary where the president believes, and I think that he's right, that we can get the long-term settlement to Iran's nuclear deal,” he said.
When asked about the current status of negotiations, Vance said that if a deal happens, an inspections regime would be included to ensure the Iranians could never build a nuclear weapon.
“The Iranians don't want this war to continue,” he said. “It's not in their best interest. They're coming to the table, putting some real things on the table, and of course we’re going to verify it.”
In addition to a nuclear weapons ban, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that Iran must dispose of its uranium and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and in return, Tehran wants economic relief, financial compensation, and a guarantee that the United States will not withdraw from the settlement in the future.
Last month, War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a new military operation called Project Freedom concerning the Strait.
“We’re going to take the attitude of ‘accomplish the President's mission’ but verify over the long term that the Iranians are keeping their end of the bargain,” Vance added. “It's a tall order, but it's one that the president has put us in a good position to achieve.”
The goals of Project Freedom, which is separate and distinct from Operation Epic Fury, include providing 24-hour protection with a red, white, and blue dome over the Strait of Hormuz, ending Iran’s tolling system, and preventing potential shortages of energy worldwide.