Reactions to Iran deal mixed

US President Donald Trump declared "victory" following the agreement with Iran, but reactions across the United States remain sharply divided.

On Wednesday, US media reported that senior US officials had disclosed details of a preliminary memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran aimed at ending the 110-day conflict, which was signed ahead of schedule on Wednesday.

The agreement has immediately sparked debate over whether it represents a diplomatic breakthrough or a concession to Tehran.

Under the 14-point framework, the two sides would have 60 days to negotiate the terms before reaching a final agreement. According to a senior US official, the preliminary deal would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, establish a $300 billion reconstruction plan for Iran, and lift restrictions on Iranian oil exports. The agreement also includes language that Iran agrees not to develop or procure nuclear weapons.

Some terms of the deal remain contentious. Trump repeatedly denied on Wednesday that the United States would contribute to the reconstruction fund, though he said Gulf allies could provide financial support if they chose to do so.

Trump warned that the US would "go back to bombing" if Tehran failed to comply with the terms of the preliminary agreement or if negotiations did not result in a long-term deal preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.

"Mistakes are made. War is nasty," Trump said during the G7 summit, appearing to acknowledge US responsibility for strikes that killed more than 150 children. Trump said the incident was under investigation.

The agreement has drawn mixed reactions from US lawmakers, even within the Republican Party, with some praising it as a step toward ending the conflict while others warning that it could strengthen Iran.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham welcomed the MOU, reversing his earlier skepticism toward negotiations between the two countries.

"After this discussion, it is my opinion that signing the MOU will be beneficial to the United States, in as much as the Strait of Hormuz will begin to open, and the hostilities with Iran will stop," Graham wrote.

"Whether or not the United States can reach an acceptable, verifiable deal with Iran regarding its nuclear program and other issues is yet to be determined, but I see little downside to trying," he continued. "The economic stability that comes from opening up the Strait and the cessation of hostilities could create a pathway to peace well beyond the Iranian conflict."

Others, however, strongly criticized the deal.

"The details that I've seen so far look … awful. This will go down as a tremendous foreign policy blunder," Republican Senator Bill Cassidy told Nexstar's Reshad Hudson on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.

"(President Ronald) Reagan is rolling over in his grave. Iran's nuclear ambitions were not curbed, and they have learned that threatening the Strait of Hormuz works and will undoubtedly leverage it in the future," Cassidy wrote in a social media post. "Now, Iran gets to build brand-new infrastructure under this deal."

"Before the war, the strait was open, Iran was being crushed by sanctions, and 13 service members were still alive. Now, 13 Americans are dead, families have paid billions at the pump, sanctions will be lifted, and the bombing has stopped. This is the worst foreign policy blunder in decades," he wrote.

Former US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley also criticized the agreement, particularly reports that sanctions on Iranian oil exports would be lifted immediately.

"If this is true, Iran wins," Haley wrote.

A recent analysis from the Center for Strategic & International Studies said both Washington and Tehran would likely claim victory, while each side would also face losses.

"For President Trump, the primary success of the deal is the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz … but the strait's closure was a direct consequence of the war," the analysis said.

The analysis also noted that the agreement could be a major setback for Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has long viewed Iran as an existential threat. It added that the Iran war had broad support in Israel and that Netanyahu faces a difficult political environment ahead of the coming election.

Agencies contributed to the story.