White House rejects talk of split over Iran deal and Israel policy

The White House is pushing back on suggestions that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are at odds over President Donald Trump’s Iran policy. The question matters because the administration is trying to defend a June 17 memorandum with Tehran while handling tensions with Israel, Gulf allies and a dispute over the Strait of Hormuz, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.

Al Jazeera and Reuters reported that Trump has faced criticism, especially from pro-Israel politicians and advocates, after signing the memorandum of understanding with Iran. Vance, who led talks with Iranian officials in Switzerland, has defended the agreement and said the sides had made “good progress” toward a final deal, which they have 60 days to complete.

Rubio has taken a more cautious public line. During a trip to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain, Al Jazeera reported, he sought to reassure Gulf governments concerned about the interim accord and about Iran’s conduct during the war.

Different tones on Israel and Lebanon

Vance has publicly warned Israel against undercutting US-led diplomacy, according to Al Jazeera. Referring to Israel’s reliance on force, he said: “You’re a country of nine million people. You can’t just kill your way out of solving every single national security problem that you have.”

Vance also suggested that Israeli strikes on civilian infrastructure in Beirut were damaging peace efforts, Al Jazeera reported. Trump has also criticised Israeli attacks on residential buildings, saying at the G7 summit in France that Israel did not need to “knock down an apartment house” every time it sought a target because many people in those buildings were not Hezbollah.

The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health said more than 4,000 people have been killed and 1.2 million displaced in Israeli attacks on Lebanon since March 2, according to Al Jazeera.

Rubio, by contrast, avoided direct public criticism of Israel during his Gulf trip, Al Jazeera reported. Asked about Vance’s remarks, Rubio pointed to a Hezbollah attack on an Israeli checkpoint and described Israel’s military actions in Lebanon as a response to Hezbollah.

Iran, the Gulf and Hormuz

Vance has spoken about the possibility of a less hostile US-Iran relationship, saying the countries could “work together to promote peace and prosperity,” according to Al Jazeera. He also moved away from earlier US vows to eliminate Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities, saying countries including Israel and Iran could not be told they have no right to self-defence.

Rubio has used tougher language on Iran. In Bahrain on June 25, he said international waterways, referring to the Strait of Hormuz, do not belong to any single state, Al Jazeera reported. He also said Iran would not be allowed to impose tolls or fees on vessels passing through the strait.

Al Jazeera reported that the United States and Iran later exchanged strikes over control of Hormuz, the first such fighting since the memorandum was signed. The two sides are expected to hold technical talks over the strait, which Al Jazeera said carries one-fifth of global energy supplies.

Vance has also suggested that Arab countries in the region could contribute to a reconstruction fund for Iran, Al Jazeera reported. Rubio said on June 23 that he would not ask Gulf allies to fund such reconstruction during his trip and called that possibility “far down the road.”

Officials deny a policy rift

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly rejected claims of a divide, saying there was “one camp” and that the administration backed Trump’s effort to ensure Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott called the idea of a Vance-Rubio split a “tired and fake” narrative.

Reuters reported that another State Department spokesperson said there was no disagreement between the two officials on Lebanon and that the administration’s aim was to restore Lebanese government control across its territory. Rubio also denied a split when asked about Iran, saying he and Vance were aligned behind Trump.

Al Jazeera reported that the scrutiny is sharpened by the officials’ political histories. Vance has often criticised US involvement in foreign wars, while Rubio built a Senate reputation as a hawk on Iran, Russia and Cuba; both are seen as possible successors to Trump within competing Republican foreign policy camps.

This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.