The Trump administration on Wednesday released the text of an interim agreement reached with Iran to end a 110-day conflict, framing it as a “major win” for the United States. The memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran includes political and financial concessions to Iran in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and preventing what administration officials described as a “worldwide depression.”
Outgoing Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy posted a statement on X calling the accord “the worst foreign policy blunder in decades.”
“Reagan is rolling over in his grave,” Cassidy wrote. “Iran’s nuclear ambitions were not curbed, and they have learned that threatening the strait of Hormuz works and will undoubtedly leverage it in the future. Now, Iran gets to build brand-new infrastructure under this deal.”
Cassidy, who lost his primary last month after President Donald Trump intervened to oust him, contrasted conditions before and after the conflict. “Before the war, the strait was open, Iran was being crushed by sanctions, and 13 service members were still alive,” he said. “Now, 13 Americans are dead, families have paid billions at the pump, sanctions will be lifted, and the bombing has stopped. This is the worst foreign policy blunder in decades.”
Senior administration officials said the deal would help prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, pointing to a provision in the MOU in which Iran said its enriched uranium stockpile “will be destroyed” through “down-blending.” Critics argued the deal accomplishes less than the 2015 nuclear agreement that the Obama administration negotiated.
Senator Lindsey Graham, a vocal Trump ally, initially said in the immediate aftermath of the deal’s announcement that he was “somewhat concerned that Iran’s view of the agreement seems different than what the American negotiating team is claiming.” On Wednesday, after a “very lengthy and productive” conversation with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, Graham wrote on social media that he believed signing the MOU would be “beneficial to the United States, in as much as the strait of Hormuz will begin to open, and the hostilities with Iran will stop.”
“Whether or not the United States can reach an acceptable, verifiable deal with Iran regarding its nuclear program and other issues is yet to be determined, but I see little downside to trying,” Graham added.
Vice President JD Vance responded to Graham’s post by thanking him.
Senator Thom Tillis said he was “concerned” about reports that the agreement contemplates a $300 billion fund for Iran. “I’m hearing a $300bn number and that’s concerning to me, so I just need the details,” Tillis told reporters. “I also need to know the methodology. I’m not interested in just an agreement that gets us through two and a half years, which is how much longer this administration lasts.”
The MOU is due to be formally unveiled later this week at a ceremony in Switzerland and gives both sides 60 days to negotiate a comprehensive final agreement. The conflict with Iran has cost thousands of lives and disrupted the global economy.
Trump defended the ceasefire deal on Wednesday at the G7 summit, promising that if Iran misbehaved he would “go back to dropping bombs right smack in the middle of their head.”