Cruz, Graham and Pompeo warn emerging Iran deal would strengthen Tehran and threaten Israel

Former Sec. of State Mike Pompeo: “Open the damned strait. Deny Iran access to money. Take out enough Iranian capability …”

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Republican lawmakers and former Trump administration officials criticized a memorandum of understanding under negotiation to end the Iran conflict, while Trump allies and administration officials defended the emerging proposal and pushed back against conservative opposition.

Several senior Republicans said any agreement that leaves Iran with regional leverage, access to funds, or nuclear capabilities would be unacceptable.

“I am deeply concerned about what we are hearing about an Iran ‘deal,’ being pushed by some voices in the administration,” Sen. Ted Cruz wrote on X/Twitter.

Cruz praised President Trump’s military action against Iran, calling it “the most consequential decision of his second term,” but warned against concluding the conflict on the reported terms.

“If the result of all that is to be an Iranian regime — still run by Islamists who chant ‘death to America’ — now receiving billions of dollars, being able to enrich uranium & develop nuclear weapons, and having effective control over the Strait of Hormuz, then that outcome would be a disastrous mistake,” Cruz added.

Sen. Lindsey Graham also warned against an agreement that would leave Iran in what he described as a strengthened regional position.

“This combination of Iran being perceived as having the ability to terrorize the Strait in perpetuity and the ability [to] inflict massive damage to Gulf oil infrastructure is a major shift of the balance of power in the region and over time will be a nightmare for Israel,” he wrote.

Mike Pompeo, who served as secretary of state during Trump’s first term, criticized the framework reportedly under discussion and called for a tougher approach toward Tehran.

“The deal being floated [is] … Not remotely America First. It’s straightforward: Open the damned strait. Deny Iran access to money. Take out enough Iranian capability so it cannot threaten our allies in the region.”

“Overdue. Let’s go,” he concluded.

Trump administration officials rejected the criticism, and Trump’s close allies, including Communications Director Steven Cheung and outside adviser Alex Bruesewitz, publicly attacked Republican critics of the proposal.

Trump said the Iran deal aimed at ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz was “largely” complete.

Conservative media figures and commentators also defended the administration’s position, telling Republicans to “leave the real work to the professionals” and give Trump the “space to find an America First solution.”