Vance-Netanyahu tense call: VP chided PM for overselling regime change; US accuses Israel of 'smearing' Vance — Axios
VP Vance held a tense call with Netanyahu this week, chiding him for 'overly optimistic predictions' on Iran: 'Bibi really sold it to the president as being easy, as regime change being a lot likelier than it was.' A US official accused Israel of running an influence operation against Vance: 'It's an Israeli op against JD' — though Axios found no evidence. Vance is joining talks alongside Witkoff and Kushner; a senior US official: 'If the Iranians can't strike a deal with Vance, they don't get a deal. He's the best they're gonna get.'
Actor responses
US official (Axios): 'Before the war, Bibi really sold it to the president as being easy, as regime change being a lot likelier than it was. The VP was clear-eyed about some of those statements.' Senior US official: 'If the Iranians can't strike a deal with Vance, they don't get a deal. He's the best they're gonna get.'
Israel has not commented on the Axios report. A US official accused Israel of being behind reports framing Vance as Iran's preferred negotiating partner — 'an Israeli op against JD' — though Axios found no evidence. Israel's position favors regime change over a negotiated deal.
Iran has separately been described as preferring to negotiate with Vance as more likely to reach a deal. The US-Israel rift over war goals — Israel wanting regime change vs. US seeking a deal — is a structural advantage for Iranian negotiating strategy.
Sources