‘Worst foreign policy blunder in decades’: Trump’s own party decries his Iran deal
Donald Trump’s peace deal with Iran has drawn a rare rebuke from members of his own party, with few major Republicans willing to come to his defence.
The deal essentially returns to the status quo of the pre-war situation, but with a $A420 billion reconstruction fund for Iran.
Donald Trump's Iran deal has been widely panned by Republicans. Anna Moneymaker/Pool Getty Images via AP
It also lifts sanctions on Iranian oil exports and unfreezes previously inaccessible assets of the regime.
Senator Bill Cassidy said that “(Ronald) Reagan was rolling over in his grave”.
“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.”
Cassidy was previously a vocal Trump defender but has been speaking his mind more willingly after an opponent endorsed by the president defeated him in his primary re-election bid.
Others, meanwhile, are pinning the blame not on Trump but his advisors.
“History teaches that giving billions of dollars to theocratic lunatics who want to murder us is not a good idea,” Senator Ted Cruz said.
“I think the president is receiving some very poor advice on this deal.”
Donald Trump's deal with Iran has been seen as a humiliating defeat for the United States. Michel Euler/Pool AP via AP
Conservative broadcaster Sean Hannity had a remarkable comment after speaking to Trump about the deal.
“So this big memorandum of understanding comes out. I’ve talked to Jared Kushner, I’ve talked to Steve Witkoff, I’ve talked to the president,” Hannity said.
“I don’t even think the president saw the memorandum of understanding to be very blunt with you.”
And fellow conservative commentator Ben Shapiro called the memorandum of understanding (MOU) a “disaster”.
“(It) does not achieve any of the actual signal goals that were set by the administration at the beginning,” Shapiro said.
“In my opinion, the vice president of the United States, the chief negotiator on this particular project, has not well served the president.”
Foreign policy experts say Iran is much better off under the deal made with Donald Trump. AP Photo/Vahid Salemi
Fox News contributor and former Republican congressman Trey Gowdy said he thought “someone was spoofing” him when he saw the MOU.
“(Iran) are better off than they were before the hostilities began, and that should not be the consequence of war,” Gowdy said.
“The regime has not changed. They’re just richer.”
Democrats were not any kinder.
“The president has been humiliated on the world stage,” Senator Jon Ossoff said.
“Many Americans are increasingly concerned about his stability and his capacity for the office.
“It’s deeply distressing to Americans to see a president so incompetent attempting and failing to represent the nation.”
The MOU also gives Iran the ability to institute a toll on ships going through the Strait of Hormuz after 60 days.
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