Washington: US President Donald Trump is reportedly considering action against senior members of his national security team, including Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, after differences emerged within the administration over the recently announced Iran deal.
According to a TV9 Hindi report citing Israeli outlet Israel Hayom, senior White House officials have indicated that Hegseth and Ratcliffe could face consequences for opposing the agreement. The report said both officials had resisted the deal, while Trump ultimately decided to move ahead with it.
The development has drawn attention because Hegseth has already been under pressure over his role in the US approach towards Iran. The report said Trump had earlier stated publicly that Hegseth would be responsible if the Iran campaign did not deliver the expected outcome. Trump reportedly said the war against Iran was launched on Hegseth’s advice.
The matter gained further weight after Axios reported that Trump held a meeting with senior officials on Sunday, June 14, where Hegseth and Ratcliffe opposed the Iran deal. Despite their objections, Trump approved the agreement.
The report also pointed to a clear divide inside Trump’s team. On one side, Hegseth, Ratcliffe and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were said to be against the agreement. On the other side, Vice President JD Vance, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner supported talks and a settlement with Iran.
Vance’s role has become politically significant. According to the report, he was among the few senior figures who had opposed war with Iran from the beginning and was later made head of the negotiation team. His position has strengthened after the agreement, while those who backed a harder line may now face scrutiny.
The reported tension also comes amid strain between Washington and Israel. The Iran deal has reportedly left Israel isolated on key regional concerns. Trump also publicly criticised Israel in Paris on Tuesday, saying Syria could fight Hezbollah better than Israel. Syria is traditionally seen as an enemy state by Israel, making the remark politically sensitive.
The possible removal of Hegseth and Ratcliffe, if carried out, could signal a major shift in Trump’s foreign policy team at a critical moment. For now, there has been no formal announcement from the White House. The developments, however, underline growing friction within the administration over Iran, Israel and the future direction of US policy in West Asia.