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Former Vice President Mike Pence sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s emerging agreement with Iran on Tuesday, arguing that the proposed arrangement raises serious concerns and resembles a policy of appeasement toward a longtime adversary.

Appearing on CNN’s “The Source,” Pence said he supported Trump’s past decisions to take military action against Iran’s leadership but expressed deep skepticism about any agreement that would ease pressure on the regime.

Pence said, “Iran has been at war with the United States, and our cherished ally Israel, for 47 years. And I strongly supported, the president’s decision for the first time in modern history to take the fight directly to the mullahs in Tehran last year. And then again, this year. And I do believe the president has earned some latitude in negotiating an end to hostilities. But I have very real concerns. I look like apparently an awful lot of people on this, I just don’t trust the Iranians. I’ve been quite close to those issues from my time in the White House, many briefings in the Situation Room, as well as my years on the Foreign Affairs Committee in the House. So I’ve been the Iranians, particularly with regard to their nuclear ambition, have essentially a legacy of lies.”

While acknowledging that Trump has earned the right to pursue diplomatic efforts after confronting Iran militarily, Pence cautioned that Tehran’s long record of deception should make any agreement subject to intense scrutiny.

He added, “At least what we’re hearing echo out of this, this potential memorandum of understanding, it smacks of appeasement. I mean, it sounds a bit like what I write about in my book that, the progressive left has long embraced, appeasement against our adversaries like Iran. But there are voices on the populist right that would have us pull back from our role as leader in the free world. I don’t think this is the time to pull back. I don’t think this is a moment for appeasement. And I think, I would urge the president to stand firm on the fundamental elements that Iran has to dismantle and abandon its nuclear program, dismantle its ballistic missile program, renounce the support of terrorist organizations, and restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.”

Pence argued that the United States should maintain a hard-line approach toward Iran and insisted that any final agreement must require the regime to permanently end its nuclear ambitions, eliminate its ballistic missile capabilities, stop supporting terrorist groups, and guarantee free passage through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

{Matzav.com}

The Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee moved forward Tuesday with legislation that would withhold certain funds destined for the Palestinian Authority and redirect them toward compensating victims of terrorism, including families affected by the October 7 massacre.

The proposal, which cleared the committee for a first reading, was advanced under the leadership of committee chairman MK Boaz Bismuth and sponsored by MK Moshe Passal. Under the bill, Israel would annually freeze an amount equal to the funds the Palestinian Authority transferred to Gaza during the previous year. The withheld money would then be allocated to compensate victims of terrorism originating from the Gaza Strip.

The hearing opened with testimony from bereaved families whose relatives were murdered in the October 7 attacks. Family members urged lawmakers to approve the measure. Following the public portion of the session, committee members held a closed-door discussion in which representatives of relevant government agencies and ministries presented their assessments.

Ben Zoherman, whose father was killed at the Sha’ar HaNegev Junction during the October 7 assault, described the uncertainty his family continues to face. “I don’t know where the terrorist who murdered my father is today. We know that some of the terrorists operating at that junction returned to Gaza that same day. I don’t know if justice will ever be served, and I don’t know who can be held accountable.”

Zoherman also said that some victims’ families fall outside existing support programs, leaving them feeling abandoned and without sufficient assistance. Galit Shopen, whose brother Ziv Shopen was murdered in Kibbutz Be’eri, voiced support for the legislation, saying, “No amount of money will fill the void Ziv left behind, nor can it restore what we lost. But if there are funds originating from entities that for years encouraged, supported, or rewarded terror-related activities, I believe it is right and just that these funds be channeled to compensate the families of terror victims and aid those harmed by acts of terror.”

Moshe Saville of the OneFamily organization told committee members that his group assists thousands of victims of terrorism and war and believes the legislation addresses a real and pressing need among bereaved families.

“Nothing will bring back those we lost. No amount of money in the world can erase the pain or blur the loss. But it can grant the families a modicum of peace, a bit of stability, and some breathing room amid the harsh reality they live in,” said Saville.

During the deliberations, a representative of the Justice Ministry raised several legal concerns regarding the application of the bill to victims of the October 7 attacks. She explained that existing law already allows the Palestinian Authority to be sued for damages when it can be demonstrated that it transferred funds to an individual who carried out a terrorist attack. According to her, court precedents have established that even a single payment to a terrorist may be sufficient to create the legal connection required for liability.

The ministry representative added that significant legal and factual questions remain regarding the Palestinian Authority’s direct connection to the October 7 massacre and whether any of the attackers had previously received payments from the PA. Based on information currently available, she said, many of the terrorists involved in the attack likely did not receive such payments, making it difficult to establish the legal link necessary to connect the frozen funds to those who participated in the massacre.

{Matzav.com}

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The Senate narrowly rejected an effort Tuesday to limit President Donald Trump’s authority to conduct military operations against Iran without prior approval from Congress, preserving the White House’s flexibility to act in the escalating regional conflict.

Lawmakers backing the proposal sought to require the president to obtain explicit authorization from Congress before launching any additional military action involving Iran.

The measure failed by the slimmest of margins, with senators voting 48-47 against advancing the War Powers resolution for floor consideration. Democratic Senator John Fetterman crossed party lines and voted against the effort, providing the decisive vote. Meanwhile, Republican Senators Rand Paul, Bill Cassidy, Lisa Murkowski, and Susan Collins broke with their party and joined Democrats in supporting the resolution.

Tuesday’s vote represented the Senate’s ninth consideration this year of legislation aimed at reining in presidential war powers related to Iran. Most of those initiatives have fallen short, although one proposal succeeded in clearing the chamber last month by a vote of 50-47.

The debate follows action in the House of Representatives earlier this month, where lawmakers approved legislation intended to restrict Trump’s authority to undertake military operations connected to the conflict with Iran.

That House vote came after three previous attempts to pass similar legislation had failed to gain enough support.

The measure ultimately passed the House by a 215-208 margin. Four Republicans — Representatives Thomas Massie, Brian Fitzpatrick, Tom Barrett, and Warren Davidson — joined Democrats in backing the effort, voting against their party’s leadership on the issue.

{Matzav.com}

Vice President JD Vance sought to ease concerns Tuesday over the emerging agreement between the United States and Iran, arguing that critics are mischaracterizing the arrangement and insisting that Tehran will not gain access to financial benefits unless it demonstrates meaningful changes in behavior.

During an interview with Megyn Kelly, Vance emphasized that any economic incentives tied to the agreement would be conditional and closely tied to Iran’s actions moving forward.

“It is a regional peace deal. It’s going to include the Gulf. It’s going to include Israel. It’s going to include Lebanon,” explained Vance, who also stated, “If Iran is funding Hezbollah, we’re not going to allow a bunch of unfrozen assets to flow to the Iranians.”

To illustrate his point, Vance pointed to the United Arab Emirates, describing the nation as “one of the best allies that we’ve had in the region.”

JD Vance on the Iran peace deal:

Somebody said, I forget who, but somebody said, you know, this is like doing the Marshall Plan when the Nazis are still in control. And that's wrong on a few different ways.

Number one, the Marshall Plan was a lot of American tax money. This is… pic.twitter.com/0zWIhJBh8j

— Clash Report (@clashreport) June 16, 2026

“Let’s say that they want to invest in a nuclear power plant in Iran. They really can’t do that without us lifting some of the sanctions that exist in the global financial system to make that possible. Now, are the Emiratis going to invest in Iran, or is America going to let the Emiratis invest in Iran? Unless the Iranians change their behavior? No.”

Vance argued that opponents of the agreement are incorrectly portraying the arrangement as a direct financial windfall for Tehran.

“So all these people say, ‘Well, you know, you’re giving Iran money.’ No, no, no. We’re saying that if the Iranians change their behavior, we’re gonna let some of these other countries invest in rebuilding their country and creating some prosperity for their people. That’s like a good thing, right?” Vance asserted.

The vice president also dismissed comparisons between the proposed Iran arrangement and the post-World War II Marshall Plan, responding to criticism that has circulated in recent days, including remarks from Lindsey Graham, though Vance did not identify him directly.

“Somebody said, I forget who, but somebody said, you know, this is like doing the Marshall Plan when the Nazis are still in control. And that’s wrong on a few different ways,” said Vance.

“Number one, the Marshall Plan was a lot of American tax money. This is not American tax money. Number two, we’re saying you only get the benefits of the bargain if you change your behavior. If that happens, we’re talking about a transformed Middle East. That’s a great legacy for the president, but more importantly, it’s a great one for the American people,” he stated.

As debate over the agreement intensified, the Saudi-based news outlet Al Arabiya published what it said was the full text of a memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran. The document reportedly lays out a broad package of economic incentives and commitments that could significantly benefit Iran.

Among the provisions described in the report are steps by the United States to end restrictions on Iranian maritime activity, facilitate the restoration of shipping routes, and allow the export of Iranian crude oil, petrochemicals, and related products through sanctions waivers that would reportedly take effect immediately after the agreement is signed.

The reported memorandum also outlines a massive economic development initiative, under which the United States and regional allies would help create a reconstruction and investment program for Iran valued at no less than $300 billion.

Additionally, the document claims that Washington would work toward the eventual removal of all sanctions imposed on Iran—including U.S. sanctions and international penalties—according to a schedule that would be negotiated at a later date.

President Donald Trump on Monday forcefully rejected reports claiming that the agreement would provide Iran with an unconditional $300 billion payout.

Writing on Truth Social, Trump also asserted that Iran had committed to permanently forgoing nuclear weapons.

“Iran has agreed to never have a Nuclear Weapon! Also, the story that the U.S. is paying Iran 300 million Dollars is Fake News, put out by the Dumocrats!!! President DJT,” he wrote.

{Matzav.com}