JD Vance, US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee back Trump’s leadership amid Israel-Iran conflict

Vance took to X on Tuesday morning to "address some things directly on the Iran issue" in response to "crazy stuff on social media." Vance said that Trump has been "amazingly consistent" over 10 years on saying Iran "cannot have a nuclear weapon."

"Over the last few months, he encouraged his foreign policy team to reach a deal with the Iranians to accomplish this goal. The president has made clear that Iran cannot have uranium enrichment. And he said repeatedly that this would happen one of two ways--the easy way or the 'other’ way," Vance wrote.

"Second, I've seen a lot of confusion over the issue of 'civilian nuclear power' and 'uranium enrichment.' These are distinct issues. Iran could have civilian nuclear power without enrichment, but Iran rejected that. Meanwhile, they've enriched uranium far above the level necessary for any civilian purpose. They've been found in violation of their non-proliferation obligations by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which is hardly a rightwing organization."

Vance added, "It's one thing to want civilian nuclear energy. It's another thing to demand sophisticated enrichment capacity. And it's still another to cling to enrichment while simultaneously violating basic non-proliferation obligations and enriching right to the point of weapons-grade uranium," saying that he has yet to see "a single good argument for why Iran needed to enrich uranium well above the threshold for civilian use" and for why "Iran was justified in violating its non-proliferation obligations."

"Meanwhile, the president has shown remarkable restraint in keeping our military's focus on protecting our troops and protecting our citizens," Vance wrote. "He may decide he needs to take further action to end Iranian enrichment. That decision ultimately belongs to the president. And of course, people are right to be worried about foreign entanglement after the last 25 years of idiotic foreign policy."

He concluded, "But I believe the president has earned some trust on this issue. And having seen this up close and personal, I can assure you that he is only interested in using the American military to accomplish the American people's goals. Whatever he does, that is his focus."

Trump posted a message he received from Huckabee on Tuesday morning, in which the former Arkansas Governor praised Trump’s decision-making amid the conflict between Israel and Iran and said it is an "honor" to serve Trump.

"Mr President, God spared you in Butler, PA to be the most consequential President in a century—maybe ever. The decisions on your shoulders I would not want to be made by anyone else. You have many voices speaking to you Sir, but there is only ONE voice that matters. HIS voice," Huckabee, who is also a Baptist minister, wrote.

"I am your appointed servant in this land and am available for you but I do not try to get in your presence often because I trust your instincts. No President in my lifetime has been in a position like yours. Not since Truman 1945. I don’t reach out to persuade you. Only to encourage you. I believe you will hear from heaven and that voice is far more important than mine or ANYONE else’s."

Huckabee continued, "You sent me to Israel to be your eyes, ears and voice and to make sure our flag flies above our embassy. My job is to be the last one to leave. I will not abandon this post. Our flag will NOT come down! You did not seek this moment. This moment sought YOU! It is my honor to serve you!"

This comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East between Israel and Iran, with Israel striking Iran late last week and the two exchanging strikes since then. Huckabee said on Monday that the US embassy in Tel Aviv would remain closed "as shelter in place still in effect. Some minor damage from concussions of Iranian missile hits near Embassy Branch in Tel Aviv but no injuries to US personnel."

An alert issued late on Monday stated that the embassy would continue to be closed on Tuesday. "The US Embassy is not in a position at this time to evacuate or directly assist Americans in departing Israel," the embassy said, noting that Israel's Ben Gurion Airport remains closed as well as Israel's seaports.

Trump told reporters on Air Force One that "I’m not asking for a ceasefire, we’re looking at better than a ceasefire" in the Iran-Israel conflict. He said he wants "a real end" to the conflict and for a "complete give-up" by Iran.