International Reactions Pour In Following Iran-US Accord: ‘Washington’s Capitulation Document,’ Say Critics

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran has elicited numerous responses from international personalities and media. The accord, aimed at concluding a protracted conflict, has become a focal point for debate and analysis across the global stage.

Barbara Leaf, a diplomat at the Middle East Institute and former Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, commented on the situation, stating, “Now Trump faces a dilemma: he does not want to return to war, but he has lost much of the leverage he could have had if the war had ended in the first or second week.”

Former US National Security Advisor Susan Rice described the agreement as a “horrific and shocking document of surrender, completed with hundreds of billions of dollars in reparations.” She attributed this outcome to “predictable results of incompetent negotiations and a clumsy strategic disaster stemming from the initiation and continuation of this catastrophic war.” Rice further added, “The United States will not recover from this greatest national security mistake in decades anytime soon.”

Meanwhile, a Republican Senator from Kansas, Roger Marshall, welcomed the understanding between Iran and the US, emphasizing Iran’s right to possess missiles for self-defense. Speaking to CNN, Marshall stated, “I can’t say for sure. I’d prefer they didn’t have them. I certainly don’t want them to have long-range missiles. I don’t want them to have nuclear-armed missiles. I’d prefer they didn’t. But I don’t think that’s the key thing here. I think they should be able to defend themselves.” He defended the agreement, asserting, “You can never force Iran into complete surrender and unconditional acceptance of an agreement unless you bring ground forces in and militarily occupy them. But still, my main point is that this agreement has the support of most Middle Eastern countries, and that’s what gives it long-term stability and success.”

The Secretary-General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, characterized the agreement as a positive step towards regional stability. Stoltenberg claimed that the deal with Iran has curbed the country’s nuclear and missile capabilities and will help restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. This assertion contrasts with recent remarks by President Trump, who acknowledged the perceived unfairness of restricting Iran’s missile program while other nations possess ballistic missiles.

Prominent American television host and commentator Tucker Carlson declared that the agreement effectively signals the end of the American empire. Carlson drew a parallel to the 1956 Suez Crisis, stating, “On Friday, the United States officially acknowledged that Iran is a decisive player, and that changes everything.” He elaborated, “But with this agreement, the United States has shown that despite possessing the best, largest, and most expensive military in the world, it does not have the military capability to impose its will on the world’s thirty-fourth largest economy.” Carlson concluded by suggesting that just as the Suez Crisis marked the twilight of the British Empire, this memorandum of understanding signifies the decline of American imperial power.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement welcoming the achievement of an agreement to end the conflict between the US and Iran, signed at the presidential level. Moscow stressed the importance of all parties adhering to the understandings and preventing any new escalation. The ministry also highlighted Iran’s commitment to its NPT obligations as the best response to baseless accusations and expressed hope that peace between Iran and the US would help rebuild trust among the Persian Gulf nations.

Former Trump administration officials have voiced strong criticism of the Iran-US memorandum. Nikki Haley, former US Ambassador to the UN, took to X (formerly Twitter) to note that Iranians are chanting “Death to America” while the Trump administration plans to release billions of dollars for Iran. Former Vice President Mike Pence, while praising Trump’s previous actions against Iran, expressed “real concerns” over the terms of the agreement.

Senator Chris Murphy of the Democratic Party voiced his dissatisfaction with the published terms of the understanding, stating in a local Connecticut media interview, “This is what’s in this memorandum of understanding: Iran gives no concessions, and the United States allows Iran to sell oil freely, while also paying them 300 billion dollars in reparations.” Murphy, a critic of Trump’s foreign policy, added that the deal was “written on Iran’s terms.” He emphasized that the agreement clarified two points: that the war was an “absolute and shameful disaster” for the country, and that Iranophobes who claimed a good deal could be struck by simply bombing Iran were always wrong.

Senior US Senator Ted Cruz, a supporter of Donald Trump’s foreign policy, described the understanding between Tehran and Washington as an “ill-considered” agreement for the American side. In an interview with the right-wing outlet The Daily Wire, Cruz acknowledged that under the terms of the memorandum, the United States has recognized Iran’s permanent control over the Strait of Hormuz. He questioned the benefit to America of such a concession.

NTV reported that President Donald Trump admitted the framework agreement with Iran stemmed from his fear of an economic crisis, thereby indirectly acknowledging Tehran’s significant influence on the global economy and finding himself in contradictions once again. The report added that Trump defended the initial agreement with Iran at the G7 summit in France.

Al-Quds Al-Arabi newspaper wrote that Tehran has developed a regional deterrence strategy over the past twelve months, transforming itself from a last defensive line into a first offensive line in confronting Israel. The newspaper continued, “Today, Iran is making history in the region after its victory in the Strait of Hormuz. After these equations, the path is clear: the only solution is the will of resistance.” Al-Quds Al-Arabi noted that an analysis of Iranian leaders’ statements in recent days shows Tehran extending its regional strategic deterrence from the west, starting with Lebanon, to the Red Sea, Yemen, and the Horn of Africa in the south, and to Azerbaijan and the Caspian Sea in the north.

The Guardian commented that Trump’s agreement with Iran was the result of unrealistic ambitions for an indefensible war.