U.S. Vice President JD Vance has alleged that some individuals within the Israeli government are behind a covert campaign aimed at undermining him over the Trump administration's efforts to negotiate a deal with Iran.

Speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Vance claimed there was evidence that certain Israeli officials opposed the proposed agreement and had worked behind the scenes to influence public opinion against it.

"There are certainly certain people within the Israeli government who hate the deal," Vance said, adding that he believes a "very discreet, extremely well-funded campaign" was launched to derail the negotiations.

He pointed to a recent Time magazine report that linked former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale to an Israeli government-funded initiative that allegedly paid conservative influencers to criticize the ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

According to Vance, some of those influencers also targeted him personally because of his role in advancing the administration's diplomatic efforts.

He said the attacks included critical social media posts, information leaks to journalists and accusations that he was acting on behalf of foreign governments or media personalities rather than pursuing U.S. interests.

Vance dismissed the allegations, insisting that his focus has been on carrying out President Donald Trump's objectives, which include preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon while ensuring the continued free flow of global oil and gas supplies.

The vice president said he had no issue with foreign governments trying to influence U.S. policy, describing it as a common feature of international politics. However, he argued that American leaders should never allow such lobbying efforts to shape their decisions.

"What bothers me is when American leadership allows that influence to affect their judgment," he said, adding that his responsibility is to represent the interests of the American people above all else.

Vance also rejected accusations that he is antisemitic or anti-Zionist, describing those claims as unfounded.

He said he has deep respect for the Jewish faith and considers Israel an important U.S. ally, but maintained that allies should be able to disagree on policy without damaging their relationship.

"My attitude is that Israel is an ally, like France or the UK," he said. “There will be areas where our interests align and areas where they don't.”

During the conversation, podcast host Joe Rogan raised concerns about Israel's alleged influence on U.S. politics, including claims of lobbying, funding and intelligence activities.

In response, Vance acknowledged those concerns but argued that many foreign governments attempt to shape American public opinion to achieve favorable policy outcomes.

He maintained, however, that some individuals within the Israeli government were specifically trying to steer the United States away from negotiations with Iran in favour of continuing military operations indefinitely.

Despite the criticism, Vance said he maintains good relationships with several Israeli officials, including Israel's ambassador to the United States, whom he described as someone he respects, while reiterating that his priority remains advancing American interests.