Trump signs Iran deal, calls critics 'fools' amid mixed reactions
US President Donald Trump has signed a peace agreement with Iran to end the war between the US, Israel, and the Islamic republic, according to multiple reports. The deal, which includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, was signed at a news conference at the Palace of Versailles outside Paris, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron.
Trump put his name to the document in thick black ink on Wednesday (June 17), after uncertainty over when the agreement would be formally signed. Macron, who had hosted the G7 summit in the days prior, shouted "bravo" as Trump signed, per a report by The Hindu.
The deal follows five weeks of all-out war that began after the US and Israel launched military action against Iran, leading to shipping restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz and a spike in energy prices. The agreement is expected to bring an end to the conflict, with the strait to reopen after a period of two months of negotiations, according to the same report.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also signed the agreement, according to Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, who said, "now it is time to test the implementation of the agreement."
Trump's response to critics
Hours after the signing, Trump took to social media to hit back at critics who accused him of being too lenient on Iran. In a post, he wrote: "These fools, who think I haven't been tough enough on Iran, when the Stock Market Just Hit A RECORD HIGH, and Oil prices are 'tumbling' down, are either jealous, bad people, or stupid."
The comment came amid criticism from US senators and allies, who have questioned the terms of the deal. The Guardian, which first reported on the signing, noted that critics have argued that the agreement does not fully address Iran's nuclear ambitions or its regional influence.
Bolton's criticism
Former US national security adviser John Bolton, a long-time advocate of regime change in Iran, told RFI that he believes the deal amounts to a "political failure" for Trump. Bolton, who has served under several Republican presidents and has consistently supported hardline policies against Tehran, said the agreement does not go far enough to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
"I think the US objective for many years should have been to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. This deal does not do that," Bolton said in an interview with RFI. He added that the administration's concession that Iran has a right to enrich uranium, as stated by Trump at the Évian summit, undermines the deal's credibility.
Bolton's comments reflect a broader divide among US policymakers over the merits of the agreement, which some see as a necessary compromise to end a costly war, while others view it as a capitulation to Tehran.
Deal details and economic impact
According to reports from The Guardian and other outlets, the deal includes a provision for the US to waive sanctions on Iran's oil exports, which had been crippling the Iranian economy. The waiver, which is expected to take effect immediately, has contributed to a drop in oil prices, which fell more than three percent on Thursday, continuing the decline seen since news of the deal broke over the weekend.
The agreement also includes a $300 billion reconstruction fund backed by regional nations, though specific details of this fund were not immediately clear.
Trump, in his social media post, highlighted the stock market's record high as proof of the deal's success, despite concerns from critics about the long-term implications.
Implementation ahead
The deal now enters a period of implementation, with negotiations expected to continue over the coming two months, according to reports. The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane, is seen as a key step towards stabilizing global oil markets.
The signing at Versailles, a site loaded with historical significance—where the treaty that ended World War I was signed—has been described by The Guardian as a deliberate choice by Macron, who has sought to position himself as a key mediator in the conflict. However, the symbolism has also drawn criticism from those who see parallels to the Treaty of Versailles, which some historians argue led to World War II.
Key claims in the deal
According to reports from South China Morning Post and The Hindu, the agreement includes a provision for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which had been greatly restricted during the conflict. The deal also appears to include a US commitment to facilitate the release of a $300 billion reconstruction fund supported by regional nations, as reported by The Guardian.
Trump has also indicated that the US will waive oil sanctions on Iran "immediately," a move that has been met with concern from critics who worry it will provide Tehran with financial relief without sufficient concessions on its missile program or support for proxies in the region.
Conclusion
The signing of the deal marks a significant shift in US policy toward Iran, with Trump hailing it as a victory that brought down oil prices and boosted the stock market. However, the agreement has been met with skepticism from both critics of the deal, who see it as a capitulation, and some allies who question its sustainability. As oil prices continued to fall more than three percent on Thursday, the full implications of the agreement remain to be seen, with negotiations on the implementation set to take place in the coming months.