Trump vows the US won't hastily agree to an Iran pact

President Donald Trump cautioned US negotiators on Sunday to avoid rushing into an agreement with Iran, as anticipation and criticism of a potential deal to end the war in the Middle East continue to grow.

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In a post on his Truth Social account, Trump stated that negotiations are progressing in a constructive manner, and he has instructed his representatives not to hasten a deal, emphasizing that time is on the US side.

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The US has maintained a blockade of Iranian ports since April 13, following Tehran's decision to virtually halt traffic through the Strait of Hormuz in response to US-Israeli attacks on Iran that began on February 28.

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Trump reiterated that the blockade will remain in full force until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed, and emphasized the need for both sides to take their time to get it right.

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In the same Truth Social post, Trump also criticized the 2015 nuclear deal agreed upon by former President Barack Obama and Iran, while noting that the US relationship with Iran is becoming more professional and productive.

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Trump stressed that Iran must understand it cannot develop or procure a nuclear weapon or bomb, highlighting a key condition for any potential agreement.

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Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei announced on state television on Saturday that the two sides are nearing a "memorandum of understanding, a kind of framework agreement composed of 14 clauses," indicating a trend toward rapprochement.

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Several Republican lawmakers close to Trump, including senators, have expressed concerns about a potential agreement that may favor Iran, as aspects of the deal begin to emerge.

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A possible agreement, as reported by Axios, could extend the current ceasefire by 60 days, allowing the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened, Iran to sell oil freely, and negotiations to be held on Iran's nuclear program.

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Senator Roger Wicker, the top Republican overseeing defense policy, strongly opposed a rumored 60-day ceasefire with Iran, arguing that it would undermine the accomplishments of Operation Epic Fury.

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Fellow Republican senators Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham also voiced opposition to Iran gaining benefits, such as the ability to sell its oil freely, under a potential agreement.

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Senator Ted Cruz warned that if the outcome of the negotiations results in an Iranian regime, still run by Islamists, receiving billions of dollars and gaining control over the Strait of Hormuz, it would be a "disastrous mistake."

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Senator Thom Tillis expressed skepticism about the deal, stating that it "doesn't make sense to me" and questioning how the US could accept a posture where nuclear material remains in Iran.

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Tillis referenced a statement made by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and the Department of Defense 11 weeks ago, which claimed that Iran's defenses had been obliterated, and it was only a matter of time before the US had the nuclear material, highlighting the inconsistency in the current negotiations.