It’s hard to compare this MOU to President Obama’s JCPOA because we do not know what nuclear restrictions the Iranian regime is willing to agree to, especially after this Administration gave away leverage by providing sanctions relief up front. We do know that this MOU would have the U.S. and regional partners finance at least $300 billion as part of a comprehensive plan to rehabilitate and develop Iran. Under the JCPOA, the U.S. unfroze about $100 billion in foreign reserves, in exchange for strict limits on the Iranian nuclear program and inspections to monitor non-compliance.  

Under this MOU, the U.S. would end all primary and secondary sanctions - imposed unilaterally or through coalitions - against Iran. Under the JCPOA, the U.S. committed to terminate only nuclear related sanctions and refrain from implementing new sanctions. 

There’s no question that we need to end the war in Iran, and I unequivocally support a peaceful resolution. We all agree that the Iranian government poses a threat to U.S. national security and regional stability in the Middle East. But this MOU is a strategic setback for us. Iran has proven that it can outlast the U.S. Iran has a higher tolerance for pain. Iran once wondered if it could close the Strait of Hormuz; now they know they can, and they have new power and leverage. Our adversaries have now seen that President Trump has a limited appetite for the market turmoil that war causes. 

Our military has executed its tasks with precision and excellence. But our tactical skill has consistently been undermined by the lack of clear strategy, objectives, and planning from the Trump Administration. And now, even though the Administration never presented a plan to Congress and after the Department of Defense received $150 billion in the “Big Beautiful Bill,” the Administration is asking for another $80 billion to cover the cost of the war and restock munitions that have been severely diminished.  

So, after American servicemembers lost their lives and tens of billions of dollars were spent, after the global economy has strained under the pressure of the war, and after we’ve lost international credibility and President Trump broke his promise of “no new wars,” are we better off? I don’t think so. Has the President done anything to make life easier and more affordable for hardworking Americans? The opposite! He refuses to sign a comprehensive housing package into law that would address our housing shortage and affordability crisis. 

The Administration’s stated objectives were to enforce regime change, remove Iran’s highly enriched uranium, stop the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), halt support for regional terrorist organizations, and end their nuclear ambitions. Four months later, an even more hardline regime is firmly entrenched, negotiations are ongoing over the nuclear program, and, President Trump said it would be “unfair” to limit Iran’s access to ballistic missiles. This regime will also come out of the war with the ability to sell more oil without sanctions, have more assets available, and have access to investment funds far beyond what was available prior to this war.  

In the best-case scenario, this Administration will reach an agreement that resembles the JCPOA, which the President withdrew us from during his first term. The more likely outcome – demonstrated by this MOU that reads like an Iranian regime wish list – is that President Trump leaves us and our allies in a worse position than we were in before he started this reckless, unlawful war. 

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Thanks, and take care.