Despite public commitments, a senior official in President Donald Trump’s administration admitted the deal with Iran is “less stringent” than the nuclear agreement signed during President Barack Obama’s tenure, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday.
According to details released so far, the agreement includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz, lifting the American blockade on Iranian ports and shipping, and extending the ceasefire by 60 days. During this period, Washington and Tehran are expected to negotiate over Iran’s nuclear program.
The senior official explained that Iran understands the United States doesn’t want to return to conflict—a situation that could give Tehran additional leverage going forward. According to the official, as long as the agreement doesn’t include clear and practical commitments to limit or halt the nuclear program, it could be weaker than the deal signed in 2015 under the Obama administration.
Despite Trump’s declaration that this is a “great deal” that will bring “peace and security to the entire region,” the full text of the agreement hasn’t been released. Even among Republican lawmakers and the president’s allies, demands have been voiced to receive a briefing on its details before forming a final position on it.