Photo: Alamy
President Donald Trump said Sunday that negotiations with Iran are progressing in “an orderly and constructive manner” and indicated that his administration is not rushing to finalize a deal.
The president made the comments in a post on Truth Social following growing criticism from several Republican senators and conservative allies over reports describing the framework of an emerging agreement with Iran.
Although he did not directly reference the criticism, he sharply distinguished the current negotiations from the Obama administration’s 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran, which several critics have argued the new proposal resembles.
President Trump called the Obama-era deal “one of the worst deals ever made” and said it created “a direct path to Iran developing a Nuclear Weapon.”
“Not so with the transaction currently being negotiated with Iran by the Trump Administration, THE EXACT OPPOSITE, in fact!” he wrote.
“The negotiations are proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner, and I have informed my representatives not to rush into a deal in that time is on our side,” he added.
President Trump also said a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would remain in effect until a final agreement is “reached, certified, and signed.”
“Both sides must take their time and get it right. There can be no mistakes!” he wrote. “Our relationship with Iran is becoming a much more professional and productive one. They must understand, however, that they cannot develop or procure a Nuclear Weapon or Bomb.”
Reports about the developing agreement suggest it could include a 60-day ceasefire period during which negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program would continue.
Critics have raised concerns that the framework would not immediately remove nuclear material from Iran or impose tougher restrictions at the outset of the agreement.
President Trump also thanked Middle Eastern nations supporting the negotiations and again raised the possibility that Iran could someday join the Abraham Accords.
“I would like to thank, thus far, all of the countries of the Middle East for their support and cooperation, which will be further enhanced and strengthened by their joining the Nations of the historic Abraham Accords and, who knows, perhaps the Islamic Republic of Iran would like to join, as well!” the president wrote.