WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� Republican leaders on Capitol Hill, including top national security figures, were voicing strong reservations Thursday 鈥�- and some outright condemnation 鈥� of the Trump administration’s the fighting in Iran.
The memorandum of understanding signed by President Donald Trump started a 60-day negotiating clock to reach a final deal on the future of Iran鈥檚 nuclear program. While Trump allies noted the agreement is not final, the lifting of economic sanctions on Iran鈥檚 sale of oil and the plan for a $300 billion fund to rebuild Iran and its economy were met with criticism from Republican leaders and conservative influencers, including some close Trump supporters.
鈥淧resident Trump has pursued peace through strength. I hope the intermediaries working on this deal are not undermining that objective,鈥� said Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who has urged Trump to keep up the pressure on Iran and last month warned against striking a bad deal.
鈥淭he $300 billion fund for the reconstruction and economic development of Iran 鈥� though not funded by U.S. taxpayers 鈥� would make Iran鈥檚 payoff under President Obama鈥檚 2015 deal look like a pittance by comparison,鈥� Wicker said, referring to the Democratic administration’s Iran agreement that Trump withdrew from during his first term.
The criticism from within Trump鈥檚 own party 鈥� though hardly unanimous 鈥� comes as he is trying to bring an end to the unpopular war fewer than five months from midterm elections, where Republicans are facing headwinds in their effort to hold their narrow majorities.
Trump calls his critics 鈥榝ools鈥�
Wicker鈥檚 points were backed by a number of his colleagues, many of whom supported the war when it began.
鈥淗istory demonstrates giving billions of dollars to the theocratic lunatics who want to kill you is an exceptionally bad idea,” said Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, a staunch supporter of the war. 鈥淎nd so I hope we don鈥檛 do that.鈥�
Trump on Truth Social called his critics 鈥渇ools鈥� and said the $300 billon payment to Iran by the United States is 鈥渇ake news.鈥� The interim pact promises a $300 billion fund for postwar reconstruction. It鈥檚 not clear where that money will come from 鈥� but Trump said, as Wicker noted, the U.S. would not contribute.
鈥淎ll there is for the U.S. is Success, Lower Oil Prices, and Victory,鈥� he posted.
Some senators question financial provisions
As the memorandum was released to Congress on Thursday, several Republican senators said it many of them about its financial provisions.
Majority Leader John Thune and South Dakota colleague Sen. Mike Rounds were seeking clarity on how financial incentives to Iran and conditions barring funding terrorism would be enforced, because 鈥渞ight now, a lot of money’s going to go to Iran,鈥� Rounds said.
To be sure, there were Republicans more closely aligned with Trump’s America First policies in the Senate and elsewhere who were giving him the benefit of the doubt.
Sen. Roger Marshall stressed the point in the memorandum that supporters say gives the U.S. the upper hand. In a social media post, the Kansas Republican said one of the most important provisions 鈥渓ays out a key commitment that strengthens regional security and ensures that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.鈥�
Louisiana GOP Senate candidate John Fleming, who has focused on Trump’s most loyal supporters ahead of a June 27 Republican primary runoff, said that means Trump has suggested that the U.S. will strike Iran again if it does not live up to the agreement.
鈥淭he criticism may be worthy if there isn’t follow-through,鈥� Fleming said. 鈥淗e’s using the speak-softly-and-carry-a-big-stick in offering them plenty of help, but at the same time he’s got that stick ready if they don’t live up to their agreements.”
MAGA voices send a warning
Still, some of Trump’s strongest supporters in conservative media have warned against the agreement.
Conservative radio host Mark Levin suggested a strategic rethinking to hold off on an agreement with Iran until after the midterms.
鈥淲e should consider slow-walking the enemy, building up our munitions, our oil reserves, get the price of gasoline down, get through the midterms, then knock them out,鈥� he said in a social media post. Instead, the U.S. seemed to be 鈥渞ushing to a deal, building up their oil industry鈥� and agreeing to governments 鈥渢ransferring billions to them.鈥�
Right-wing social media influencer Laura Loomer, who has long supported Trump while also promoting conspiracy theories, was more pointed in her criticism.
鈥淲ho is giving the President tainted, pro-Islamic intel?鈥� she posted on X.
What all the critics shared is an abiding distrust of the Iranian regime, no matter their relationship to Trump.
鈥淚t does smack of the kind of appeasement,” said former Vice President Mike Pence, whose relationship with Trump was fractured after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. 鈥淏ottom line. I don鈥檛 trust the Iranians.鈥�
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Beaumont reported from Des Moines, Iowa.
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