Trump blasts right-wing Iran critics as 'fools,' points to market gains

U.S. President Donald Trump launched a direct attack on conservative and right-wing critics who say he has not taken a hard enough line on Iran. In a post on his own social network, Trump called such critics “fools” and said they were “either fanatics, or bad people, or stupid,” ending with his trademark slogan, “Make America Great Again.”

Trump argued that his Iran policy is working without hurting the U.S. economy. He pointed to record-high American stock markets and falling oil prices, saying the market was at an all-time high and that oil was “plunging.” According to CBS, after Trump announced a preliminary agreement with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Wall Street indexes surged to new highs, with the Dow Jones closing at about 51,671 points, a historic peak. Oil prices fell about 5%, to around $80 a barrel, after months above $100.

The criticism of Trump is coming largely from within his own camp, including hawks and conservatives in the United States and pro-Israel figures, who argue that the emerging deal is too soft and does not guarantee dismantling Iran’s nuclear program. Vice President JD Vance told CNBC that the expectation is for the Strait of Hormuz to remain open long term without additional tolls or tariffs, a point still being worked out in technical negotiations between the sides.

The backdrop is a prolonged war that began in late February after the United States and Israel attacked Iran. The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil passes, triggered a severe energy shock, pushed U.S. gasoline prices above $4 a gallon, and drove inflation to a more than three-year high. CNBC reported that Trump had said dozens of times over recent months that a deal was close, but no agreement had actually been signed until this latest announcement.