Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) leveled sharp criticism Wednesday at President Trump's newly announced agreement with Iran, arguing the deal leaves Tehran stronger and better positioned to advance its military ambitions. Speaking on MSNBC's 'Money, Power, Politics,' Kelly said the pact 'emboldens the Iranians and makes them more powerful,' warning it could free up resources for ballistic missile development and potentially a nuclear weapon.
The agreement, unveiled over the weekend after three months of intermittent conflict that battered the region and spiked global energy costs, aims to end hostilities across multiple fronts. Kelly, a former astronaut and retired Navy captain, did not mince words: 'What I'm hearing and seeing so far in this plan, this is like total capitulation. Imagine if Joe Biden or Barack Obama signed this deal, what Donald Trump would say about it.' He added that if Congress gets a vote, 'this thing's a nonstarter.'
Trump has declined to release the full text of the memorandum of understanding until it is formally signed by Washington and Tehran later this week. However, multiple news outlets have reported obtaining a 14-point draft MOU. White House communications director Steve Cheung pushed back Wednesday morning, stating the leaked text 'does not reflect the language of the actual MOU.'
According to the reported provisions, the deal would halt fighting on 'all fronts,' including in Lebanon where Israel has been targeting Hezbollah. It also calls for restoring shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to prewar levels within 30 days of signing—a critical step given Trump's recent warning that U.S. oil reserves could be depleted in weeks without a Strait deal.
The agreement has quickly become a political flashpoint. Kelly's critique echoes broader Democratic concerns that the Trump administration is offering too many concessions without verifiable safeguards. The senator's remarks come as Trump declared himself 'the boss' at the G7, where the Iran deal dominated discussions among world leaders.
On the campaign trail, Trump has defended the agreement, arguing it prevents a wider war and stabilizes energy markets. But Kelly and other Democrats question whether the terms actually incentivize Iranian aggression. The debate is likely to intensify as the White House prepares for the formal signing ceremony and potential congressional review.
Meanwhile, the administration faces additional scrutiny on other fronts. House Democrats are demanding answers about reported internal discussions on suspending habeas corpus, while the Trump administration paid Invenergy $765 million to scrap offshore wind projects in favor of natural gas and geothermal energy.
As the week unfolds, all eyes are on the final text of the Iran MOU and whether it can withstand the political firestorm from both sides of the aisle.
