Vice President JD Vance is pushing back against growing criticism in Israel over the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding, arguing that opponents of the agreement have failed to offer a realistic alternative and insisting that the deal advances both American and Israeli security interests.

In an interview with The New York Times, Vance defended the agreement championed by President Trump and suggested that Israeli concerns have been overstated.

Vance noted that he had not heard direct objections to the deal from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu himself.

“Maybe I missed it, but I don’t think Bibi himself has actually criticized the deal. Because I think he’s maybe a little more familiar with the details of what’s in it,” he said.

The vice president then turned his attention to criticism voiced by Israeli ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, arguing that opponents of the agreement have not presented a workable path forward.

“People in their system, like Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, attacked the deal. My response to them would be: What exactly is your proposal? You can’t just kill your way out of solving every national security problem you have,” he said.

According to Vance, much of the opposition within Israel reflects longstanding skepticism rather than an objective assessment of the agreement’s terms. He argued that the United States has repeatedly demonstrated its commitment to Israel and said accusations that the deal is fundamentally flawed are unsupported.

He maintained that claims portraying the agreement as harmful “is not supported by the facts” and said such arguments fail to reflect the close strategic partnership between the United States and Israel.

Vance also offered an optimistic assessment of recent political developments inside Iran, asserting that factions seeking improved ties with Western nations have gained the upper hand in internal debates.

“The moderate side in Iran, which wants a better relationship with the West, has won the internal debate in recent months,” he said.

He further argued that the agreement places meaningful restrictions on Tehran’s military capabilities and prevents the regime from maintaining a missile program capable of threatening the broader international community.

Addressing regional security concerns, Vance said Washington expects Israel to exercise restraint in southern Lebanon while preserving its ability to respond to threats and defend its citizens.

The comments quickly drew a response from Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who rejected Vance’s position and issued a sharply worded reply on social media.

“Here is the proposal, JD Vance: deal with the Nazis of the 21st century the same way the United States dealt with the Nazis of the 20th century,” Ben Gvir wrote in English on X.

The exchange underscores the growing divide between some Israeli leaders and the Trump administration over the Iran agreement, even as both sides continue to emphasize the importance of the U.S.-Israel alliance.