Donald Trump pumps the brakes on his own Iran deal announcement as Republicans line up to call it a ‘disastrous mistake’

U.S. President Donald Trump has told his negotiators to slow down talks with Iran, raising doubts about a deal that had been presented as a major breakthrough. The move comes as Republican lawmakers are already speaking out against the agreement, with some calling it a “disastrous mistake” that would encourage Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

On Truth Social, Trump said that “both sides must take their time” to reach a deal, adding that talks were “constructive” and that “time is on our side.” This is a sharp change from his earlier claim that a deal was “largely negotiated” and nearly ready to be finalized.

The deal being discussed reportedly includes a 60-day ceasefire extension, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and a plan for further talks on Iran’s nuclear program. However, it is not a final agreement, and the harder issues – such as sanctions relief, frozen Iranian funds, and limits on Iran’s nuclear activity – are still left to be worked out later.

Republican opposition is growing, and Trump’s Iran deal faces serious challenges from within his own party

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday that there was a “pretty solid thing on the table in terms of their ability to open up the strait” and “enter into a very real, significant, time-limited negotiation on the nuclear matter.” However, critics within the Republican Party were quick to push back, with some saying the deal was “not remotely America First.”

The apparent concessions from Washington have alarmed several Republican foreign policy figures. Senator Ted Cruz said the outcome would be a “disastrous mistake” that would allow Iran to enrich uranium and develop nuclear weapons. Senator Lindsey Graham warned it would be a “major shift of the balance of power in the region” and a “nightmare for Israel.” 

This comes even as Trump has repeatedly declared Iran defeated despite intelligence assessments that contradict that claim. The US-Iran negotiations began after the US and Israel launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran on February 28, which sparked conflict across the Middle East.

Iran responded by attacking Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf, and effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas travels. The closure caused oil prices to rise sharply around the world. 

In response, the US set up a blockade of Iranian ports, which Trump says will remain “in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed.” Adding another layer of complexity, reports suggest the US may rename the Iran war to reset the congressional clock, with Trump already meeting with generals over the matter.

Despite the opposition from within his own party, Trump has insisted that a “good and proper” deal is on the way. However, his decision to slow down the pace of talks has raised questions about how committed he is to the agreement and whether it will ever be finalized.