Iran War Vance distances US Middle East policy from Israel as tensions escalate

US Vice President JD Vance has said Washington does not always agree with Israel, arguing that American Middle East policy should not become “subservient” to the Israeli government.

Speaking on the All-In Podcast, Vance said President Donald Trump recognised Israel as an important partner in military technology and intelligence. However, he stressed that the two countries could differ over policy.

Vance said Trump had shown a willingness to disagree with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he believed US interests differed from those of Israel.

He compared the relationship with Israel to Washington’s ties with NATO members. He said the US maintained important partnerships but still pursued its own foreign policy interests.

“We’re gonna work with people when we work with them; we’re gonna disagree when we disagree. And we’re gonna pursue America’s interests,” Vance said.

His comments came as the conflict involving Iran continued to generate military, diplomatic and economic repercussions across the region.

Yemeni military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree said Yemeni forces had shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet over Marib.

According to the statement, the aircraft was conducting what Yemen described as hostile operations while supporting Saudi-aligned forces in the area.

Saree also claimed that Saudi F-15 and Typhoon aircraft later withdrew from the area while searching for the wreckage.

The claims have not been independently verified.

The development followed an earlier Houthi claim that its forces had downed a Saudi fighter jet using a locally manufactured air-to-air missile. The group also accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out hundreds of air strikes.

Saudi authorities have not provided an independent confirmation of the reported aircraft loss in the information cited.

Separately, Saudi-led coalition officials said Saudi air defences had intercepted and destroyed a drone launched by the Houthis near Makkah.

Coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki said the drone was intercepted before entering restricted airspace and that its wreckage fell south of the city.

The Houthis denied the Saudi claim and rejected the allegation that the drone had been heading towards Makkah.

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The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation also condemned what it described as attacks targeting Makkah and the Madinah region.

The latest developments come as fighting between Yemen’s internationally recognised government and the Houthis has intensified after a period of relative calm.

Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told the House Financial Services Committee that Washington was conducting what he described as the “greatest economic isolation campaign” against Iran.

Bessent said US sanctions and financial measures were putting increasing pressure on Iran’s economy.

He cited currency depreciation, high inflation and fuel shortages as evidence of the impact of the campaign.

Bessent said the Treasury Department had launched an initiative known as Operation Economic Outcast to target financial networks that Washington says help Iran sell oil and evade sanctions.

He warned that enforcement against entities accused of facilitating Iranian trade would intensify.

The Treasury secretary also said Washington had held private discussions with China over Iran-related issues.

Iran, meanwhile, criticised US opposition to its membership of the General Committee of an International Atomic Energy Agency conference.

Iranian envoy Reza Najafi said the conference had approved Iran’s membership after a vote. He described the outcome as another political setback for Washington, while accusing the US of unilateralism.

Iran’s claims about the diplomatic dispute reflect Tehran’s position and have not been independently assessed in the information provided.

Iran has also reported further military activity involving US drones.

Iranian state media reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had intercepted and destroyed a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over Qeshm Island. Tehran has previously reported several US drone shoot-downs around the Strait of Hormuz.

The United States has not independently confirmed the reported loss in the information provided.

In Washington, the US House of Representatives passed a war powers resolution directing President Trump to remove American forces from hostilities with Iran.

The measure, H. Con. Res. 93, passed by 220 votes to 204, with seven Republicans joining Democrats in support.

It was the third time the House had approved a similar war powers measure.

Democratic Representative Gregory Meeks criticised the administration’s military campaign and called for a diplomatic solution. He cited military casualties, government spending, fuel prices and wider economic effects.

The administration has maintained that its military campaign is necessary to address the Iranian threat.

The financial cost of the conflict has also become a major issue.

The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the Department of Defense had spent about $38.1 billion on the conflict as of August 1.

CBO Director Phillip Swagel said the figure included replacement of expended munitions, lost equipment, additional flying hours, fuel and other operational costs linked to the campaign.

The agency estimated that another month of fighting could cost between $2 billion and $3 billion, depending on the intensity of military operations.

The CBO said the conflict had also contributed to higher global oil and fuel prices because of disruptions affecting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

The continuing military and economic pressure has intensified debate in Washington over the direction of US policy towards Iran, Israel and the wider Middle East.