House Republican defense hawks are "deeply skeptical" of the Trump administration's opening terms for a peace deal with Iran, saying Tehran can't be trusted and objecting to a possible $300 billion reconstruction fund for the country, Punchbowl News reported Tuesday.
Republicans left the first all-hands administration briefing on the memorandum of understanding with Iran last week questioning whether Tehran is negotiating in good faith. Several complained the White House has kept Congress in the dark, calling its engagement cursory and vague.
Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) told the outlet: "Iran's got to be begging us for peace, not the other way around. The fact that the president seems so eager to have a peace deal, the Iranians are abusing them on it, bottom line."
Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA) said Iran has no reason to be honest with Washington, while Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the regime has proven it never operates in truthfulness. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) said any administration in an international conflict has to over-communicate with the public.
The MOU has split congressional Republicans, some of whom have pushed Trump back toward military action.
The Wall Street Journal reported Trump weighed all-out war before opting to stick with talks. Both chambers have already rebuked the war through a war powers resolution, and Trump lashed out at the Republican senators who backed it.
Some hawks say they'll give the administration room but vow to scrutinize nuclear material disposal, Iran's future governance and protections for allies like Israel.
"The devil's in the details," Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA) told Punchbowl.
