GOP senators demand review of U.S.-Iran deal, warn of JCPOA repeat

Bipartisan criticism of the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding has turned the agreement into a test of Donald Trump’s hold on his own coalition. Senate Republicans Bill Cassidy, Thom Tillis and Ted Cruz moved quickly to question the 14-point framework, arguing that Congress should have a vote on any final deal touching Iran’s nuclear program.

The backlash sharpened after the text was released on Wednesday, ending an early information vacuum on Capitol Hill. The memorandum includes a 60-day ceasefire and negotiations window, reopens the Strait of Hormuz, provides sanctions relief and outlines a possible $300 billion reconstruction incentive for Iran. But the hardest issue, Iran’s nuclear program, was left for a second round of talks, giving Washington and Tehran 60 days to reach a final agreement, with an extension possible by mutual consent.

That structure immediately revived memories of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the Obama-era deal that Trump abandoned in his first term. Several Republican lawmakers said the current framework could drift toward a similar outcome if Iran is allowed to enrich uranium before making nuclear concessions. For critics in the Senate, the issue is less the ceasefire than the sequencing: relief first, nuclear restrictions later.

Cassidy, who lost his primary race to Trump-backed challengers, called the agreement a “tremendous foreign policy blunder” and later said it was the “worst foreign policy blunder in decades.” Cruz said the deal could send “$10 billion to $30 billion” to Iran immediately before any nuclear concession, and argued Trump was getting very poor advice. The two senators were joined by other Republicans who said the White House should not be able to lock in a final Iran arrangement without Congress weighing in.

Trump responded with open contempt. After warning at the G7 summit in France that renewed Iranian violations could bring another U.S. bombing campaign, he lashed out Thursday on Truth Social at what he called “fools,” saying they were “either jealous, bad people, or stupid.” He cited record-high stock markets and falling oil prices as evidence that his approach was working.

Not every Republican dismissed the deal outright. Lindsey Graham, after speaking with Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, said he was “pulling for a deal” and signaled support if it reopens the Strait of Hormuz and ends hostilities. Trump and Vice President JD Vance electronically signed the accord on Sunday before a formal ceremony planned for Friday in Switzerland, but the Senate fight over oversight, enrichment and sanctions relief is only beginning.