Revealed On 18 Jun 2026
US President Donald Trump’s interim cope with Iran has drawn a backlash from fellow Republicans, who argue the settlement wastes billions of {dollars} of taxpayer cash and does little to limit Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Below a 14-point memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on Wednesday, the US and Iran dedicated to an “speedy and everlasting finish to army operations on all fronts,” together with in Lebanon.
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Tehran agreed to completely reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which has been successfully closed since late February, whereas Washington pledged to “develop a definitive, mutually agreed plan” to offer $300bn in funds for the reconstruction and growth of Iran.
The settlement additionally features a pledge by Iran to not “procure or develop nuclear weapons”.
Republican Senator Invoice Cassidy, a uncommon critic of Trump inside his get together who lately misplaced a major bid for a 3rd time period in workplace, blasted the MoU as “the worst international coverage blunder in a long time”.
“Reagan is rolling over in his grave,” Cassidy mentioned on X, referring to former US President Ronald Reagan, who’s broadly thought-about an iconic determine inside the conservative motion.
“Iran’s nuclear ambitions weren’t curbed, and so they have discovered that threatening the Strait of Hormuz works and can undoubtedly leverage it sooner or later,” he mentioned.
“Now, Iran will get to construct brand-new infrastructure underneath this deal.”
Thomas Massie, a Republican Senator from Kentucky who lately misplaced a major problem by a Trump-backed candidate, Ed Gallrein, criticised the inclusion of the $300bn help plan, claiming the determine is 5 occasions as a lot because the US Congress spends on roads and bridges yearly.
Nikki Haley, the previous US ambassador to the UN throughout Trump’s first administration, additionally questioned Washington’s dedication to assist Iran rebuild from the destruction of the almost four-month-long battle.
“This regime chants dying to America, murders our troops, and makes an attempt to assassinate Individuals on US soil,” Haley mentioned on X.
“They consider they’ve an obligation to destroy us. Now, we plan to unlock billions of {dollars} and carry sanctions, with the promise of much more cash.”
Trump’s plan has drawn unfavourable comparisons to former US President Barack Obama’s extra detailed 2015 settlement with Iran, underneath which Tehran agreed to limits on its nuclear programme in trade for sanctions aid.
Trump pulled out of the deal in 2018, saying it had “enriched the Iranian regime and enabled its malign behaviour”.
Mike Pence, who served as Trump’s first vp, mentioned on Wednesday that the US-Iran MoU “does smack of the form of appeasement that our administration rejected within the Obama-Iran nuclear deal”.
Pence mentioned the US ought to pursue an settlement that “commits Iran to dismantling their nuclear programme, dismantling this missile programme, ends assist for terrorist proxies and opens the strait”.
“Failing that, we must always let our Armed Forces end the job on our phrases,” Pence mentioned on X.
Senator Ted Cruz of Texas defended the MoU from comparisons with the Obama deal, however expressed concern about offering funds to Iran.
“I do need to urge the president not to surrender the victory; we now have destroyed their army, and we must always not fund the rebuild,” Cruz mentioned on X.
