US Vice-President JD Vance has acknowledged that details of the Iran agreement remain to be worked out, as Senate Republicans express doubts about the deal brokered by Donald Trump. The memorandum of understanding (MOU), announced on Sunday, aims to end the war in Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but many lawmakers say they lack sufficient information.
In an interview with CNN, Vance described the MOU as “a very general document” roughly one page long, with specifics to be determined during technical negotiations. The deal includes financial incentives for Iran if it meets certain benchmarks, including a $300bn reconstruction fund reportedly financed by Gulf states.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters he had not been personally briefed on the agreement. “I just don’t know enough about it,” he said, raising concerns about compliance and enforcement. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina questioned the secrecy, saying, “If it’s a secret deal then how can I take it seriously?”
The MOU also covers the release of frozen Iranian funds and sanctions relief, but the full text has not been released. Vance confirmed the White House will publish the document this week, insisting that “Iran doesn’t get a dime of money unless they perform their obligations.”
Senator Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally, expressed scepticism and called for congressional review. Vance countered by urging lawmakers to ignore “hardliner propaganda” and focus on the actual agreement. The deal has drawn comparisons to the 2015 nuclear accord, from which Trump withdrew during his first term.
