If we are to believe the reports, the deal that Trump is now about to make with Iran will not include the removal from the Islamic Republic of 144 kg. of uranium enriched to a level of 60%, which is just one level below the 90% enrichment which is weapons-grade. (This report, however, does say otherwise.) The Israelis are “deeply concerned” — actually, horrified — at what Trump seems about to sign. The Iranians appear to be running rings around the man who thinks of himself as the world’s greatest dealmaker. But it’s not just the Israelis who are appalled. It’s also Republican congressmen who are openly criticizing Trump.
Among them is Senator Thom Tillis, whose reaction to the latest rumors about a peace deal can be found here: “Tillis slams emerging Iran deal, offers sharp criticism for Hegseth,” by Ian Swanson, The Hill, May 24, 2026:
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) on Sunday added his voice to other Republicans criticizing an emerging peace deal with Iran, saying he would not support it based on his understanding of what it includes.
“It doesn’t make sense to me,” Tillis said of the deal, arguing it was a mistake to leave nuclear material in Iran.
“I’m not too far away from where Pompeo is to be honest with you, and I support what Chairman Wicker says,” Tillis said during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) are among the current and former officeholders to criticize the emerging deal, which Wicker warned would be a disaster.
The Trump administration has pushed back on the criticism, particularly from Pompeo.
Tillis was also blistering in his criticism of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who he accused of giving bad advice on the war to Trump.
“We were told about 11 weeks ago by Hegseth and Department of Defense that they had obliterated Iran’s defenses and it was just a matter of time before we had the nuclear material. Now we are talking about a posture where we may accept the nuclear material remaining in Iran? How does that make sense at all?” Tillis said….
Perhaps the complaints from such Senators as Tillis, Wicker, Cruz, and Lindsey Graham, all of them considered to be Trump loyalists who have now noisily criticized the Iran deal as they believe it to be, with Wicker calling it a “disaster,” will cause Trump to refuse to agree unless removal of the uranium is included. Why, even his own secretary of state, Marco Rubio, has continued to insist that “removal of the enriched uranium” must be part of the deal. Has Trump now overruled Rubio? Is the president so desperate to open the Strait of Hormuz in order to bring down the prices of oil and food before the midterm elections that he will bow to Iran’s terms?
And it is not just senators who are alarmed. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that what he had learned of the deal made him think of the deal Barack Obama made with Iran. This infuriated the White House Communications Director, Stephen Cheung, who denounced Pompeo in the coarsest possible way. After Pompeo wrote in a post on X that the deal being floated was “not remotely America First. the deal being floated with Iran seems straight out of the Wendy Sherman-Robert Malley-Ben Rhodes playbook: Pay the IRGC to build a WMD program and terrorize the world,” Cheung lashed out, writing in response:
“Mike Pompeo has no idea what the f— he’s talking about. Hek should shut his stupid mouth and leave the real work to the professionals. He’s not read into anything that’s happening, so how would he know.”
What a way for a White House Communications Director to communicate. Cheung needs to have his mouth washed out with soap. Possibly Senator Fetterman could do it. Meanwhile, let us hope that all this criticism from hard-headed Republicans will have an effect on Trump, keeping him from making what right now, from what is known or suspected, looks like a terrible deal.
Beans🫘 says
Let’s hear some ideas. People don’t understand the facts that Trump is confronted with. We are in deep trouble and out of options with Iran.
Trust Trump to make the best deal knowing the facts on the ground. We could face total eviction form every base in the Middle East. Who will protect our allies then?
Folks need to get real and learn about the facts on the ground. Our military industry is totally corrupt, and that is the problem her, not Trump or Hegseth. They are interested in profits not making weapons in numbers. We don’t have the interceptors to continue for much longer. And we don’t have enough powerful bunker busters.
gravenimage says
Alas, Muslims in the Middle East–or elsewere–are not really our allies.
Beans🫘 says
They are in fact. Trump put Qatar in an echelon not even Israel is in. We are mandated to defend them since last year. And, the other gulf states will get into the same treaties after this is over and before Trump leaves. It’s already being discussed . Israel will not get that.
If a demon rat gets into the White House, they very well may just boycott israel during a war, and send no weapons at all, while they will be mandated to defend our factual “allies” in case they are attacked by “other regional actors”.
Rob Porter says
i do not trust Trump to make “the best deal with Iran,” not least because after studying Islam intensively and observing Muslim conduct for more than 20 years, I know that Trump is clueless about Islam, its ‘taqiyya’ lies and deceit and the Muslim mindset that stems from the Qur’an. If the Trump Administration is now “out of options with Iran” it stems that ignorance and from his bizarre and clueless approach to waging war on a ruthless enemy. His approach to warring on Iran is hopeless. A two-day totally inadequate attack following Israel’s ten days. Then he was compelled to go back – which I anticipated he would have – to and then far too soon he ended the war – and then lied that all objectives had been achieved. They were not so today U.S. forces went back to bomb missile sites sand sank an Iranian ship.. What a pathetic circus! He operates in ‘stits and farts’, devoid of logic and deep consideration. Obviously he either gets no advice or just ‘does his own thing’ as the mood hits him.
Let the Muslim Middle East Allies look after themselves. They are Muslim and don’t like you because you are a non-Muslim ‘infidile’.
Beans🫘 says
You obviously haven’t looked too deeply into this.
We threw everything we had at them, EXCEPT taking out their infrastructure. If we do that then:
They have nothing to lose, and a large arsenal of missiles and drones to fire. Now you have to answer this question. Half of our interceptors are use up. What do you do when that number hits zero? You lose the war and withdraw.
Trump know this. He cannot continue because it’s out of his control. We don’t have the interceptors. And Iran has unlimited crap tho throw at us. And it’s deeply buried in thousands of bunkers. You destroy the bunker? Not really, they dig it up very quickly and continue on firing slowly, draining our air defense.
Iran is not stupid. Neither is Trump. He took a massive gamble, because Iran can’t be allowed to enrich any further. If they refuse to surrender the nuclear ambition, we cannot do our best to give massive concessions to them to at least try.
Trump is the best president of our lifetime. It is NOT HIS FAULT the military is the way it is. It is not powerful enough for this task. We don’t have an industry for it we did in the Cold War.
It will take a decade to reset it, make weapons on mass for reasonable prices. We can, with good diplomacy keep Iran nuclear free until then. Lasers are coming as well.
We hit them with every thing we had.
ploome says
Anyone think the Iranians will abide by any thing they sign?
I have a bridge to sell you.
https://web.archive.org/web/20010503221724/http://www.islaam.com/articles/treaty.htm
Maria V says
Trump is going to lose more people that are currently with him.
He Now, needs to Finish what he started !
Rob Porter says
Maria, despite my hopes when he returned to the White House, Trump does not know how to finish anything properly. The way he conducts war is pathetic. He does not go for the jugular, defeat the enemy and then dictate the term he want. He negotiates with defeated enemy., allowing it to play games and dictate its terms. This is a circus of his making, He stsated that Iran would never get nuclear weapons, the changes his mind and considers it retain enriched materials., That is stupid. He is allowing the defeated enemy to dictate terms. That is moronic. My disgust knows no bounds. He’s not tough, he’s a bag of hot air who like Obama and Biden makes poor decisions. I always considered Hegseth a poor, lightweight, choice, but I now think that Trump likes ‘yes-men and women’.
Walter Sieruk says
It’s very wrong to propose any type of deal , likewise truce or any kind of “peace agreement ” with those disingenuous liars who would have no real intention of keeping their word on any document that they might sign . So the words that they would sign wouldn’t be worth that paper that have printed on such a document . It would be hoax. Those In power in that Islamic regime are just as dangerous hostile and menacing as those despots who in Iranian regime who had been killed this this war started.
Moreover, it’s very important that President Trump doesn’t let the Iranian people down , he did encourage to revolt against that brutal cruel oppressive death tyrannical Islamic regime , Therefore, Trump should finish the job by getting of over with , likewise trump should supply weapons to the people of Iran ,so they may be able ro overthrow horrific tyranny . If not those fiendish villains in power will viciously without mercy come down hard on those brave Iranian patriots who were after a legitimate ,which ensures and respects the natural basic human rights of Its citizens
Walter Sieruk says
Any “deal” made with that wicked “mullah regime” of Iran is a bad deal . President Thump after his words of engagement to the Iran people to rise up for freedom….Trump should not abandon the people of Iran now. That would be treacherous of him.
gravenimage says
Republican Senators Alarmed at the Proposed Deal With Iran
……………………………………..
Unfortunately, so am I…
Molesworthy77 says
1. Cheung needs to be reprimanded for his remarks concerning Mike Pompeo – and made whilst claiming to be ‘professional’.
2. Trump’s stance on Iran is seriously alarming. The present Iranian regime cannot be left in place.
Rob Porter says
Molesworthy77 , obvously Cheung does not know what he is talking about and should be fired.
Beans🫘 says
Fu@& Pompeo. Take a 💩 on his urn. He USA loser of the first order, a rino, a traitor to the country. He’s deep state criminal.
Bexarkat says
Unless there is total regime change in Iran, the IRGC will reconstitute itself and a future president of the USA will once again have to deal with the issue of Iranian nukes…however by then, it will be too late as Iran will also have ballistic missile capability to reach the shores of the US.
OLD GUY says
Islam the deceiver and these current leaders will lie, cheat, steal and murder to stay in power. Take them out is the only answer.
JustJim says
Maybe a rope a dope? We have heard the opinion of former pols, and RINOs, and next will be legitimate Repub. pols. Eventually, the Dems will chime in, not wanting to waste an opportunity to be heard, once a msm labeled microphone is shoved in front of their face, with a chance to criticize Trump, over and about anything. Then, he will have them on record as criticizing letting Iran’s regime getting the best of him, and retaining any part of their nuke program. Almost like authorization to continue total denuclearization of the regime.