Trump’s deal with Iran draws controversy from Republicans | US-Israel War on Iran News

US President Donald Trump’s long-standing deal with Iran has sparked controversy from his Republican colleagues, who say the deal costs billions of dollars in taxpayer money and does little to curb Tehran’s nuclear program.

Under a 14-point memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on Wednesday, the US and Iran committed to “an early and permanent end to hostilities in all areas,” including in Lebanon.

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Tehran agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which had been effectively closed since late February, while Washington pledged to “develop a concrete, coordinated plan” to provide $300bn for Iran’s reconstruction and development.

The agreement also includes Iran’s pledge not to “buy or develop nuclear weapons”.

Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, a staunch Trump opponent within his own party who recently lost his bid for a third term, slammed the MoU as “the worst blunder in years”.

“Reagan is rolling over in his grave,” Cassidy said on X, referring to former US President Ronald Reagan, who is known to be a prominent figure in the show.

“Iran’s nuclear ambitions have not been resolved, and they have learned that threatening the Strait of Hormuz works and will undoubtedly help them in the future,” he said.

“Now, Iran will start building new infrastructure under this agreement.”

Thomas Massie, a Republican Senator from Kentucky who recently lost a major challenge to Trump’s backer Ed Gallrein, criticized the inclusion of the $300bn aid plan, saying that this figure is five times more than what the US Congress spends on roads and bridges annually.

Nikki Haley, a former US ambassador to the UN during Trump’s first administration, also questioned Washington’s commitment to helping Iran rebuild from the destruction of the nearly four-month-old war.

“This administration is calling death to America, killing our soldiers, and trying to kill Americans in the US,” Haley said on X.

“They believe they are responsible for destroying us. Now, we are planning to unlock billions of dollars and lift sanctions, with the promise of more money.”

Trump’s plan has drawn grim comparisons to former US President Barack Obama’s detailed 2015 deal with Iran, in which Iran agreed to curtail its nuclear program in return for sanctions relief.

Trumpet came out of the contract in 2018, saying it “enriched the Iranian government and fueled its bad behavior”.

Mike Pence, Trump’s former vice president, said on Wednesday that the US-Iran MoU was “impressive at the level of our administration’s rejection of the Obama-Iran nuclear deal”.

Pence said the US should follow an agreement that “commits Iran to dismantle its nuclear program, end its nuclear weapons program, end support for terrorists and pave the way”.

“Failure, we must allow our military to complete the mission on our terms,” ​​Pence said on X.

Senator Ted Cruz of Texas defended the MoU as not being similar to the Obama deal, but expressed concern about providing money to Iran.

“I want to encourage the President not to stop winning; we destroyed their military, and we don’t have to pay for rebuilding,” Cruz said on X.