Rep. Seth Moulton, a Massachusetts Democrat, called President Donald Trump’s emerging agreement with Iran a “surrender document” on Saturday, June 13, and said it gives away too much after a costly war.
Moulton, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, spoke out right after Trump announced that the peace framework would be signed on Sunday.
Trump said the Strait of Hormuz would reopen to all shipping immediately under the deal and that no American money would go to Iran.
Moulton Calls Trump’s Iran Deal a ‘Surrender Document’
“This is a terrible deal,” Moulton told MS NOW. “It’s basically a surrender document from Donald Trump to the supreme leader of Iran.”
He pointed to the steep costs of the conflict, where the U.S. has spent $100 billion in taxpayer money so far, and 14 Americans have been killed, he said.
In exchange, Moulton argued, the deal simply reopens a shipping lane that was open before the fighting began.
“How is that a win?” he asked. “This is just lose, lose, lose across the board for Trump and the United States of America.”
Democrat Questions Whether America Gained Anything
Moulton said that ending the war is still necessary, but the Trump administration should not try to sugarcoat it and portray it as a victory for the U.S.
“Stopping this war and getting out of it is the best that we can do at this point. And so that’s why we are still hoping for a deal, even though we have to admit it’s a losing deal for America.”
Trump’s announcement on Truth Social described the agreement as a great improvement over the Obama administration’s nuclear deal.
He said it would block Iran from ever getting a nuclear weapon and stressed that no cash payments would be made.
Pakistan, acting as mediator, said the framework would be signed electronically on Sunday. Technical talks would then take place next week for finalizing a comprehensive peace agreement.
Also Read: Trump: Iran Deal to Be Signed Tomorrow, Strait of Hormuz Reopens Immediately, No Money for Iran
The president said the deal would stop Iran from building nuclear weapons and get the Strait of Hormuz open again.
Iran Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei earlier said a signing will “not be tomorrow.”
He told Iran’s Tasnim News Agency that it could still happen in the coming days, but warned that caution is needed “due to the other party’s instability.”
Moulton said Trump has promised big Iran deals many times before. “It really sounds like Donald Trump wants a deal,” he said.
“It sounds like the Iranians are pretty content dragging out negotiations because guess what? They have a stranglehold on the world economy by closing the strait.”
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow passage that carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil. Iran’s closure of the route earlier this year pushed up energy prices and hurt economies far beyond the Middle East.
Getting tankers moving again is expected to bring quick relief, but many questions hang over the durability of any new pact.
Also Read: Trump Says Iran’s Supreme Leader Has Approved Major Deal With U.S.
The 2026 conflict worsened quickly after U.S. and Israel targeted Iran’s military assets with deadly strikes.
Tehran responded with revenge attacks as the shipping blockade turned a regional dispute into something that affected global markets.
Trump’s team says the pressure campaign forced Iran back to the table on better terms, but Moulton and other critics say it is actually the U.S. that paid a high price for limited gains.
Republicans have largely backed Trump’s handling of the talks and praised the decision to avoid large cash transfers to Tehran.
The White House has not responded to Moulton’s remarks.
Trump’s post described the eagerly awaited Sunday signing as the start of a better future for the region.
He also mentioned plans to use B-2 bombers later to remove and destroy any remaining Iranian nuclear material once calm returns.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
