Here’s What Senators Are Saying About Trump’s Iran Deal

Senators expressed mixed feelings about President Donald Trump’s 60-day ceasefire with Iran.

Trump signed and released the full text of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) Wednesday, a 14-point interim agreement aimed at ending the Iran war, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and mandating a 60-day window for the U.S. and Iran to finalize a deal. Some senators, including Republicans, claimed the deal awarded Iran and allowed the nation to continue developing its nuclear program, while some hailed the agreement.

Republican Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, argued that the MOU is “completely out of step” with Trump’s goals. He particularly called out the $300 billion fund for the reconstruction of Iran and the lifting of sanctions on the nation.

“Since day one, I have supported President Trump’s efforts to end Iran’s 47-year threat to the United States and our partners. I am concerned that the memorandum of understanding negotiates away the victories of Operation Epic Fury in ways that are completely out of step with the President’s goals,” Wicker said in statement. (RELATED: Trump Admin Officials Explain How Tentative Iran Deal Would Actually Work)

“Specifically, the $300 billion fund for the reconstruction and economic development of Iran – though not funded by U.S. taxpayers – would make Iran’s payoff under President Obama’s 2015 deal look like a pittance by comparison,” Wicker continued. “I believe it would be an error to force Israel to stand down against Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed terrorist organization that continues to attack Israel on its northern border. I also oppose the U.S. lifting any sanctions on Iran, or unfreezing Iranian funds, in exchange for Iran’s mere agreement to negotiate for another 60 days. The Iranian regime has not renounced its ultimate goal — ‘Death to America, Death to Israel.’ The regime will invest every penny it receives to further that aim.”

🚨 Pro-Israel GOP Sen @RogerWicker, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, is NOT HAPPY with Trump’s Iran deal.

“I am concerned that the memorandum of understanding negotiates away the victories of Operation Epic Fury in ways that are completely out of step with the… pic.twitter.com/tv3AbqOZWv

— Nicole Silverio (@NicoleMSilverio) June 18, 2026

Other Republicans fully supported the MOU, including Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno, who called the deal “really monumental.”

“He’s the leader of our party. We have to give him the grace and the space to do what he needs to do,” Moreno said. “He’s a phenomenal negotiator, better than anybody here in the Senate, times 100, and he’s doing what needs to be done. … With extraordinarily few exceptions, he’s got the full backing and support of the conference.”

Republican Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt said he was “very hopeful” about the deal after having conversations with senior White House officials.

Republican Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, who recently lost his reelection bid to a Trump-backed candidate, called the deal the “worst foreign policy blunder in decades.”

“Reagan is rolling over in his grave,” Cassidy said. “Iran’s nuclear ambitions were not curbed, and they have learned that threatening the Strait of Hormuz works and will undoubtedly leverage it in the future. Now, Iran gets to build brand-new infrastructure under this deal. Before the war, the strait was open, Iran was being crushed by sanctions, and 13 service members were still alive. Now, 13 Americans are dead, families have paid billions at the pump, sanctions will be lifted, and the bombing has stopped. This is the worst foreign policy blunder in decades.”

Reagan is rolling over in his grave. Iran’s nuclear ambitions were not curbed, and they have learned that threatening the Strait of Hormuz works and will undoubtedly leverage it in the future. Now, Iran gets to build brand-new infrastructure under this deal.

Before the war, the…

— U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (@SenBillCassidy) June 17, 2026

Democratic senators condemned the deal, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer saying the agreement will be remembered as the “one of the biggest American disasters.”

“This will be regarded as one of the biggest American disasters, and it’s because Trump started this war,” Schumer said. “He didn’t know how to finish it, and it looks like in too many ways he has just capitulated to the Iranians.”

Democratic Virginia Sen. Mark Warner also argued Wednesday that the U.S. is worse off because of the deal.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune had not fully endorsed the deal as of Wednesday, and expressed hope that senators would receive more information on it in coming days. He told reporters Thursday that he expects the administration will brief Congress on the agreement soon.

Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz also claimed Trump received “poor advice” from his advisers.

“History teaches that giving billions of dollars to theocratic lunatics who want to murder us is not a good idea. I think the president is receiving some very poor advice on this deal,” Cruz told The Hill.

Trump criticized the those who opposed the MOU, arguing they were “either jealous, bad people, or stupid.”

Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham said the U.S. is “off to a good start” by reopening the Strait of Hormuz, although he remained skeptical that Iran will give up its nuclear weapons program.

“We’re off to a good start — opening up the strait, having a framework,” Graham said. “If we can pull this off as described by the Trump administration, it’d be a good deal. The only question I have is, will Iran actually go there? But time will tell.”

Some Senate Republicans said Monday they wanted to hold a vote on the deal and have a final say on whether the agreement should be implemented. Among these senators were Thune and Republican Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford.

During a Wednesday appearance at the G7 Summit in France, Trump expressed frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for continuing to bomb Lebanon as negotiations were ongoing with Iran. The administration expressed concerns that Israel could disrupt the peace process by continuing with their military actions.

Vice President J.D. Vance fired back at the Israeli government over their frustrations with the U.S., stating that they should not be attacking the only powerful ally they had left. “The problem for Israel is not Donald J. Trump and anybody in Israel who thinks their biggest problem is the president of the United States needs to wake up and smell the reality of the situation that country is in,” Vance said at a White House briefing Thursday.

Republican Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie condemned the Iran war from the beginning and argued that Trump failed to fulfill his past campaign promises on not involving the U.S. in new wars.

The war had a dire impact on the economy and inflation. Inflation spiked to its highest levels since May 2023 as food and energy prices rose across the nation. Gas prices also surged during the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which significantly raised the price of oil.

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