After 110 days of negotiations, they still ended up back at the negotiating table. Just as the agreement was being signed, what Trump saw first wasn’t celebration, but rather skepticism and criticism from within the Republican Party.
According to a report by the British newspaper The Guardian on June 18, the temporary agreement reached between the United States and Iran has sparked intense opposition within the American Republican Party. Some Republican senators have publicly criticized the agreement for making too many concessions to Iran. They argue that the agreement not only fails to effectively restrict Iran's nuclear capabilities but also weakens the advantages that the United States gained through sanctions. Some even described this as “the worst diplomatic mistake in decades.” However, some Republicans believe it is necessary to continue monitoring the details of the agreement. They argue that a ceasefire and the restoration of navigation in the Hormuz Strait are valuable goals in themselves.
The White House released a video of Trump signing the U.S-Iran Understanding Memorandum
On the 17th local time, the Trump administration announced a provisional agreement between the United States and Iran, hoping to end the conflict that has lasted for 110 days.
Trump said after dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palace of Versailles that he had signed a memorandum of understanding there. Earlier, he stated that as long as Iran " behaves well", the United States would unfreeze its frozen funds and lift sanctions.
According to the memorandum of understanding, the United States agrees to grant Iran an exemption from sanctions for oil exports during a period of 60 days following the extension of the ceasefire agreement. Iran will gradually open the Strait of Hormuz, while the United States will lift its blockade on Iranian ports. The 60-day period can be extended with mutual consent.
The White House has presented this agreement as a “major victory” for the United States. However, in this agreement, which consists of 14 items, the United States made significant political and economic concessions to Iran in exchange for the restoration of navigation in the Hormuz Strait and to prevent the global economy from falling into recession.
Republican senator Bill Cassidy subsequently posted on X platform stating, “Reagan's coffin boards won’t hold him down (Reagan is rolling over in his grave).”
This is Louisana state senator who is about to resign with a lot of resentment.
“Iran’s nuclear ambitions have not been contained at all. They have now learned that they can use the Strait of Hormuz as a bargaining chip to force the United States to make concessions, and they will definitely continue to do so in the future. According to this agreement, Iran could even build entirely new infrastructure!”
Trump administration officials argued that this agreement would help prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. They specifically mentioned one clause in the memorandum—Iran’s commitment to “destroy” its existing uranium enrichment stockpile through “dilution and downgrading”. However, critics believe that the achievements of this agreement are even less than those reached during the 2015 nuclear deal between the Obama administration and Iran.
Bill Cassidy Social Media
Cassidy further said, “The Hormuz Strait was open even before the war began. Iran is being crushed by sanctions and is struggling to breathe. Those 13 American soldiers are still alive. Now, those 13 Americans have died. American families have paid billions of dollars in costs due to oil prices. The sanctions are being lifted, and the bombing has stopped.”
"This is the most serious diplomatic blunder in decades!" Cassius said.
Just last month, Kassidy lost her primary election. Trump personally intervened in the election, supporting other candidates, which ultimately prevented Kassidy from being re-elected. Since Kassidy supported the impeachment of Trump after the "January 6th Capitol riot," the two have been in open conflict for many years.
During the primary elections, Trump also made several posts on social media attacking Kassidi, calling him a "disloyal failure".
Former Republican senator Ted Cruz, who had expressed doubts about possible agreements with Iran, said in an interview with conservative media that he hopes to see more details of the agreements. However, some parts of the information disclosed so far seem “not wise.”
Crozier said that it is regrettable that the information released so far indicates that Trump may have received very bad advice on this matter. Giving billions of dollars to Iran is not a good idea.
Even Lindsey Graham, one of Trump’s most staunch allies in Congress and a Republican senator, expressed concerns initially after the agreement was announced. She said that Iran’s understanding of the agreement seemed to be different from the version claimed by the US negotiation team.
However, after having a “long and productive conversation” with Steve Witckow, the U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Issues, Graham’s attitude improved.
He said on social media: 'After this exchange, I believe signing this memorandum is in the interests of the United States, as the Strait of Hormuz will be reopened and hostilities between Iran and other countries will also cease.'
As for whether the United States can ultimately reach an acceptable and verifiable agreement with Iran regarding its nuclear program and other issues, it’s still too early to say. But at least it’s worth trying. I don’t see much risk involved right now.
American Vice President Viscer has always maintained a complex but publicly supported stance on this war. He subsequently posted an article expressing his gratitude for Graham's position.
Another member of the Republican Party, Senator Tom Tillis, expressed concern that the Trump administration was considering creating an Iran fund worth $300 billion.
"I heard a figure of 3000 billion US dollars, which worried me, so I need to see the specific details and also want to know how this money was calculated." Tilly's said in an interview with reporters. "I don't wish for just signing an agreement that will cover the next two-and-a-half years, which is the remaining term of this government’s tenure."
Trump denied any information about providing Iran with a $300 billion fund. He stated that the United States “will not invest even a single cent in Iran.” If any country decides to invest in Iran, “it is up to them.”
Analysis suggests that the conflict between the United States and Iran has resulted in thousands of deaths and severely damaged the global economy. It has also exacerbated divisions within the Republican Party, causing some Republicans to start distancing themselves from Trump on this issue. Earlier this month, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution on war powers by a vote of 215 to 208, with four Republican lawmakers switching sides to the Democratic camp, supporting restrictions on Trump’s authority in dealing with Iran’s affairs.
Trump fiercely reacted to critics who accused him of being "not tough enough" towards Iran. He posted on the "Real Social" platform, writing: "The stock market has just hit a record high, oil prices are still falling, and yet there are a bunch of fools who think I wasn't tough enough with Iran. These people either envy me, or are twisted villains with dark hearts, or else they simply don't have clear heads. Let America great again!!!"
The intense disagreements and disputes within the domestic political arena also have led to doubts about this temporary agreement, which seems to be intended to end conflicts.
The editorial board of The New York Times believes that ending the war is welcome, but there is a “painful reality” behind this agreement. The commentary argues that most of the goals Trump set when initiating the conflict have not been achieved, and the arrangements reached have instead cost the United States in military, diplomatic, and economic terms. The United States may continue to bear strategic costs for a long time to come.
The Guardian mentioned in another commentary that the Trump administration initially tried to force Iran to make full concessions regarding its nuclear program, missile capabilities, and regional influence through war. However, the memorandum reached ultimately fell far short of these goals. It was more like a realignment to accept reality under pressure from the Strait of Hormuz and the global economy, aiming to limit losses rather than ending the conflict in a victorious manner.
