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Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday dismissed criticism from Republican lawmakers over a potential agreement with Iran, calling concerns that President Donald Trump would accept a weak deal “absurd.”
“The idea that somehow this president, given everything he’s already proven he’s willing to do, is going to somehow agree to a deal that ultimately winds up putting Iran in a stronger position when it comes to nuclear ambitions is absurd,” Rubio said during a press conference in India.
“That’s just not going to happen. But our preference is to address this through a diplomatic means, and that’s what we are endeavoring to do here,” Rubio said.
“I think we’ve made some progress. I’m always cautious when I say that because you can agree to things on paper; they actually have to be implemented,” he added.
The remarks came one day after the president announced that a deal with Iran was “largely negotiated” following discussions with Arab allies in the region.
“Final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed and will be announced shortly,” Trump wrote Saturday on Truth Social. “In addition to many other elements of the Agreement, the Strait of Hormuz will be opened.”
Several Republicans have expressed concern that the emerging agreement could leave Iran in a stronger strategic position despite recent U.S. military action.
Sen. Lindsey Graham warned Saturday that a premature agreement could shift regional influence toward Iran.
“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 dominate force requiring a diplomatic solution,” Graham wrote on X.
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also voiced skepticism about the negotiations, comparing the reported framework to Obama-era diplomacy with Iran.
“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,” Pompeo wrote Saturday on X.
