Washington, 19 June (H.S.): Responding on Thursday to Israeli criticism of the ongoing U.S.-Iran nuclear agreement talks following the 108-day conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran in West Asia, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance said that not every national security challenge can be resolved through the use of force.

According to Türkiye's state-run Anadolu Agency, Vance said in an interview that much of the anxiety and opposition to the agreement in Israel stemmed from mistrust and misunderstandings. He asserted that the United States has consistently proven itself to be a reliable partner of Israel, and the suggestion that Washington had negotiated a bad agreement was not supported by the facts.

Vance said that Israel's political establishment and a significant section of its public remain highly sensitive about the agreement. Referring specifically to Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, he said that leaders criticising the agreement should also explain what alternative solution they propose.

You are a country of nine million people. You cannot solve every national security problem simply by killing people or by relying solely on the use of force, Vance said.

The U.S. Vice President argued that the agreement could prove beneficial not only for Israel but also for the broader Middle East and the international community. According to him, the diplomatic process has significantly weakened Iran's nuclear programme and brought Tehran to a position where it is prepared to make concessions that would have seemed impossible just a few months ago.

Vance said it now remains to be seen how faithfully Iran honours its commitments, but stressed that the diplomatic process should be given an opportunity to move forward. He also maintained that the United States deserves due credit for this diplomatic effort, given its long-standing role as one of Israel's strongest allies.

Vance's remarks come at a time when tensions between Israel and Iran remain high, with the international community continuing to express concern over regional security.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar