Long list of U.S. concessions to Iran raises specter of a 'lost war'
Key takeaways
- Vice President JD Vance, who helped negotiate the deal, told reporters Thursday that the deal was structured to reward Iran for good behavior.
- The president will issue sanctions waivers on Iranian oil, allowing Tehran to resume trading its most valuable export and breaking with decades of policy.
- Still more concessions were offered to the Iranians, including a commitment by the U.S.
President Trump receives a tour of the Palace of Versailles from French President Emmanuel Macron after the Group of 7 summit on June 17, 2026. (Anna Moneymaker / Pool Photo) By Michael Wilner Washington Bureau Chief Follow June 18, 2026 2:02 PM PT 6 6 min Click here to listen to this article Share via Close extra sharing options Email Facebook X Linked In Threads Reddit Whats App Copy Link URL Copied! Print 0:00 0:00 1x This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.
WASHINGTON — The White House pushed back Thursday against growing bipartisan criticism of a negotiated settlement to the war with Iran, arguing its concessions to the Islamic Republic were contingent on its conduct and essential to securing peace.
The administration’s defensive posture came as details of the framework agreement, known as a memorandum of understanding, were finally shared with the public, revealing a raft of compromises with Tehran long opposed by Republicans.