Associated Press In this photo provided by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian displays a memorandum of understanding signed with U.S. President Donald Trump aimed at ending the war and launching negotiations on a broader agreement, in Tehran, Iran, early Thursday, June 18, 2026.(Iranian Presidency Office via AP) It was a great day for America and the world when Iran agreed, in writing, to give up its dreams of a nuclear weapon. “Iran reaffirms that under no circumstances will Iran ever seek, develop or acquire any nuclear weapons.”
Unfortunately for President Trump, that day came on July 14, 2015, when Iran signed its nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, with the Obama administration.
For what it’s worth, Iran’s commitment to Trump in this new deal with Iran is slightly less ringing: “The Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms that it shall not procure or develop nuclear weapons.” In short, Iran’s big concession for ending Trump’s war was agreeing to do something it had already agreed to do 11 years earlier.
In exchange, Iran is getting immediate relief from some of the most severe sanctions on its economy, tens of billions of dollars in unfrozen assets, and recognition of its control over the Strait of Hormuz. It is theoretically possible, though unlikely, that it will end up with all sanctions being dropped and a $300 billion investment fund.
So Trump was absolutely correct when he posted, “There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” He just didn’t realize that he would be the one waiving the white flag.
Trump’s 14-point deal is even skimpier than it looks. In fact, only five of the provisions — a ceasefire (which explicitly includes Lebanon), lifting the naval blockade, opening the Strait of Hormuz (under Iranian and Omani control, and with the ability to charge fees after 60 days), lifting sanctions on Iran’s oil and petrochemical trade, and unfreezing Iranian assets — will kick in immediately. The only benefit the U.S. gets out of this first part of the deal is the reopening of the strait — something that was never an issue before Trump started his war. Everything else benefits Iran.
And these benefits go far beyond what Barack Obama promised Iran in 2015.
Trump has been melting down for years about how Obama delivered $150 billion (in reality about $50 billion) to the Iranians in return for their promise not to develop a nuclear weapon and their agreement to rigorous inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Trump has agreed to hand the Iranians more than $100 billion in return for a promise to negotiate, something Iran was already doing for free before Trump attacked them. If this is Trump’s idea of a brilliant deal, it’s no wonder he’s got six business bankruptcies to his credit.
To make matters worse, a lot of this deal may turn out to be vaporware, much like Trump’s Board of Peace for Gaza. The negotiations are supposed to be wrapped up in 60 days, but that period can be extended by agreement of the parties. And it probably will be, since both Iran and Trump have an incentive to drag things out. If negotiations never conclude, Trump can always pretend to himself that he hasn’t lost, and that there’s an amazing deal just around the corner.
Then there’s this: “The United States of America further undertakes to remove its forces from the proximity of the Islamic Republic of Iran within 30 days after the final deal.” In some ways, this is the most shocking provision in the entire text. If there ever is a “final deal,” does this mean that the Fifth Fleet will have to abandon its base in Bahrain? It might mean exactly that, since the agreement effectively cedes control of the Strait of Hormuz to Iran, which will certainly object to having American warships patrolling it.
Finally, there is what’s not in the agreement. There is no mention of Iran’s missile program, nor of its support for its regional proxies like Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis.
So Trump’s deal leaves Iran with control over the Strait of Hormuz, undiminished power to create regional havoc, and an end to its financial and diplomatic isolation. And all in exchange for a promise to give up nuclear weapons they don’t have and don’t need. Who could have possibly seen this coming?
This is one of the worst disasters in decades for American foreign policy. And it was all avoidable and unnecessary. I don’t blame Trump for this. He is what he is — an 80-year-old man showing signs of dementia. But I do blame the people around him, who know very well what Trump is doing but did nothing to stop him. The Marco Rubios who remained silent because they wanted to earn Trump’s political endorsement. The congressional Republicans, terrified of Trump’s MAGA base, who voted again and again to let Trump continue his war while the American economy bled out.
These people are not leaders. They are time-serving sycophants who abandoned America when she needed them most and put indulging Trump ahead of protecting the country. We will not forget.
Chris Truax is an appellate attorney who served as Southern California chair for John McCain’s primary campaign in 2008.
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