Trump Administration Downplays Iran Deal, Says It Contains No Secret Commitments

Trump administration officials are trying to blunt criticism over a forthcoming memorandum of understanding with Iran, telling CNN that the text due to be signed formally on Friday does not reflect any secret Iranian commitments. The officials said the vague language is meant to let Tehran present the deal to the Iranian public and to create a positive atmosphere before more detailed, face-to-face technical talks later.

An American official told CNN that too much weight should not be attached to the wording of the memorandum, calling it a political document. Other officials said the framework is designed mainly to ease the way for the next round of negotiations, and that the secret messages exchanged with Iran contained important undertakings not included in the published text. Those undisclosed understandings, they said, were enough to reassure the administration about joining the arrangement.

One source said the hidden understandings included Iran's willingness to make concessions on U.S. involvement in destroying enriched uranium on Iranian soil. The same source said, “What matters more than the document itself is the understandings we have with each other,” adding that sanctions will be lifted only gradually, in step with progress, and funds will be released only after mechanisms are agreed.

The comments come amid sharp criticism in the United States over the still-unpublished deal and the administration's refusal to release its details. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham called the version Iran describes “terrible,” Mike Pence said “better no deal than a bad deal,” and Senator John Cornyn shared a post saying no money should be released to “this murderous regime.” Even some pro-Trump voices criticized the pact, including former General Jack Keane and conservative commentator Mark Levin, who said no memorandum or final deal could change Iran's 47 years of hostile ideology.