“[Johnson predicted that a deal with Iran would bring gas prices down and be "a big thing" for the US midterm elections.]
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Trump Says Iran Deal "Largely Negotiated" — GOP Senators Call It a Disaster
May 23, 2026
On May 23, 2026, President Trump announced on Truth Social that a memorandum of understanding to end the US-Iran war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz is "largely negotiated," with Secretary of State Rubio confirming "a pretty solid thing on the table." The reported deal terms — a 60-day ceasefire extension, Iran retaining uranium enrichment capabilities, and Iran maintaining a role in the strait — immediately drew sharp Republican opposition. Senators Graham and Wicker, chairs of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees respectively, called a 60-day ceasefire with Iran "a disaster." Sen. Ted Cruz warned that any deal leaving Iran with enrichment capabilities and effective control of the Strait of Hormuz would be "a disastrous mistake." Sen. Thom Tillis said the deal was "doomed to fail" without congressional oversight. Democrats also weighed in, with Sen. Cory Booker calling the framework hypocritical given the Trump administration's rejection of the Obama-era nuclear deal. Speaker Johnson and Rep. Massie were among the minority of Republican voices expressing support for or openness to a deal.
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12 Statements
“[Booker criticized the potential deal as a form of hypocrisy from the Trump administration, given that the administration nixed an agreement formed under the Obama administration on similar terms.]
“President Trump is the ONLY one who could have gotten Iran — the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism — to the negotiating table. We are greatly encouraged to learn a PEACE DEAL in Iran is underway — and look forward to learning more about the specifics. We'll get the Strait of Hormuz reopened, which will be great for gas prices here and stability around the world.
“There's a pretty solid thing on the table in terms of Iran's ability to open up the Strait of Hormuz and enter into a real significant time limited negotiation on nuclear matters.
“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.
“Donald Trump is being played as a fool that he is for getting us into this in the first place. What I'm seeing that has me so outraged right now is the president said he went into this to deal with their nuclear program. This does not deal with that. The same deal he criticized, he's already doing worse than.
“The deal doesn't make sense and is doomed to fail because it lacks congressional oversight.
“If a deal is struck to end the Iranian conflict because it is believed that the Strait of Hormuz cannot be protected from Iranian terrorism and Iran still possesses the capability to destroy major Gulf oil infrastructure, then Iran will be perceived as being a dominant force requiring a diplomatic solution.
“The rumored 60-day ceasefire — with the belief that Iran will ever engage in good faith — would be a disaster. The gains of Operation Epic Fury would be for naught.
“[Massie said he would be in favor of a short-term deal with Iran that would allow for more negotiations on the nuclear issue.]
“My constituents are hurting. Gas is almost $5 a gallon, diesel is almost $6 a gallon, and the farmers here in Kentucky can't afford the fertilizer to put on their fields. So, heck yes, I would support it! We don't know what the terms of it are, but if Lindsey Graham and Ted Cruz were crashing out last night, I'd say it's probably a pretty good deal.
“An Agreement has been largely negotiated, subject to finalization between the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the various other Countries.