Donald Trump faces bipartisan backlash over Iran agreement

US President Donald Trumps memorandum of understanding with Iran came under sustained bipartisan criticism with lawmakers former officials and policy experts questioning whether Tehran had gained more from the agreement than WashingtonThe criticism came as Vice President JD Vance continued talks with Iranian officials in Switzerland and administration officials defended the deal as the start of a diplomatic process aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weaponSpeaking on CBSs Face the Nation US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said the administration was approaching negotiations with Iran eyes wide open and remained focused on ensuring that Iran could never acquire a nuclear weaponWe need to give this process a chance We need to give peace a chance Waltz saidHe argued that the United States was entering negotiations from a position of strength and said any future arrangements would be based on verification no trustBut criticism emerged from both partiesDemocratic Senator Cory Booker told NBCs Meet the Press that he did not support the agreement and described it as an abject surrenderIran gets all of the benefits literally billions and billions of dollars Booker said This has been a cataclysmic failure of his makingFormer Defence Secretary Mark Esper also expressed reservations about the agreement despite welcoming the ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of HormuzWhen I look at the MOU there are many of the points that I have serious questions about and concerns about Esper saidHis principal concern he added was that too many of the incentives in my view have been given up front instead of later in the dealOn CBS Republican Senator Lindsey Graham backed continued diplomacy but acknowledged shortcomings in the agreementIs the MOU problematic Yes Graham said I would rather try diplomacy than take it off the tableGraham nevertheless predicted severe consequences if negotiations failedIf this diplomatic effort fails President Trump is going to take the Strait of Hormuz he said Were going to run itThe debate also exposed divisions within Trumps own partyCBS aired comments from several Republican senators expressing concern about the agreement Senator Ted Cruz said If we give billions of dollars to Iran that money will be used to murder Americans Senator John Cornyn warned that Iran could use released funds to rebuild its military capabilitiesEnergy and foreign policy experts also questioned the agreements longterm implicationsAmos Hochstein a former White House energy adviser argued that the deal granted significant concessions to Tehran This agreement made America less safe he saidKevin Book of ClearView Energy Partners said the arrangement appeared more permissive than earlier agreements with Iran particularly regarding oil exportsDespite the criticism Waltz insisted the administration remained committed to a negotiated outcomeI have full confidence that well get to a deal he saidThe memorandum of understanding signed last week ended nearly four months of conflict between the United States and Iran and opened a 60day period for negotiations on Tehrans nuclear programme and regional security issuesThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever