Netanyahu weighs in on Iran war, JD Vance's remarks made on Rogan podcast -- and his duty to stand up for state of Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in Washington, D.C., this week to attend the funeral for Lindsey Graham, and also held meetings with President Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. In an interview with ABC News, Netanyahu touched on a range of issues, including the Iran war and his and Trump's differing roles in the war. Plus, he addressed controversial comments made earlier this month by Vice President JD Vance. 

Netanyahu said he was hopeful that Trump is right about Iranians wanting to reach a peace deal to end the war, but unwavering about what Israel's chief goal is, saying, "Anything that will produce the end of Iran's nuclear program is what we want. That is our common goal," the prime minister said.

In response to a question about whether he used his Oval Office meeting this week to persuade Trump to step up military attacks against Iran, amid a recent lull in the fighting, Netanyahu denied doing so. "That's the caricature, the cartoon picture. That is not true," Netanyahu said of claims that he tried to influence Trump in one direction or another. He then elaborated on how he views U.S.-Israeli relations. 

"The truth is, we're partners. We're allies. He's the senior partner. It's the United States of America, let's not forget. And I'm a junior partner. But I'm the prime minister of Israel, and when I have to stand up for the interest of my country and the security of my country, I do so," Netanyahu said. "But I always do so with a deep appreciation of the role that the United States under President Trump has played in joining forces with us against our common enemy that wants to destroy us both," Netanyahu added.

Netanyahu was also asked about recent comments made by Vice President JD Vance that made waves among conservative circles.

During an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience earlier this month, Vance said he was the subject of a social media pressure campaign from certain elements within Israel's government due to his thinking on the Iran war, which President Trump has noted is "philosophically a little bit different" than much of his administration's mindset on the war.

"I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that there have been people within the Israeli government who are trying to, like, actually shift us away from negotiations because they want to continue the military campaign," Vance told Rogan. In the interview with ABC News, Netanyahu flatly denied Vance's assertion.

"Well, we're not actually," Netanyahu said. "I had a very good conversation with the vice president this morning, and I think we straightened that out because we're not. That's not our policy." 

The U.S. did unleash a new round of heavy retaliatory attacks against Iran on Wednesday night in response to a series of surprise attacks Iran staged earlier in the week against U.S. forces in Jordan. Saudi Arabia also joined the U.S. with its own airstrikes against Iran. Earlier on Wednesday, Trump said, “We are going to be hitting them very hard because it’s our turn,” according to The Wall Street Journal.

Below, watch the full interview with Netanyahu.