Former Obama adviser Susan Rice slams Trump’s Iran deal as ‘flimsy’

The former national security adviser argued the deal leaves Tehran in a position to disrupt global energy markets whenever it chooses
Susan Rice became the latest Democratic figure to rebuke the Trump administration’s Iran agreement, arguing that Washington gave away too much before securing a final deal. (Andrew Harrer/Pool/Getty Images, Getty images)
Susan Rice became the latest Democratic figure to rebuke the Trump administration’s Iran agreement, arguing that Washington gave away too much before securing a final deal. (Andrew Harrer/Pool/Getty Images, Getty images)

WASHINGTON, DC: Former National Security Advisor Susan Rice blasted the recently agreed-upon Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the US and Iran to reopen Hormuz and negotiate Iran’s nuclear program, calling it a ‘flimsy’ deal.

Rice became the latest Democratic figure to rebuke the Trump administration’s Iran agreement, arguing that Washington gave away too much before securing a final deal. The initial deal has received huge backlash from Republicans and conservative influencers too.

Obama’s security advisor slams ‘bad outcome’ of ‘stupid war’

The National Security Advisor during former President Barack Obama’s tenure railed against the 14-point initial agreement in an interview with ABC on Sunday, June 21.

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 26: Domestic Policy Advisor Susan Rice speaks during the daily press briefing at the White House on January 26, 2021 in Washington, DC. Rice discussed plans for President Biden's racial equity agenda. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Former Domestic Policy Advisor Susan Rice speaks during the daily press briefing at the White House on January 26, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

She called the war with Iran a "strategic blunder" and argued that the United States has now made "so many concessions" that amount to "a very bad outcome."

“It’s egregious, Jon,” Rice told the host Jonathan Karl.

“Because so many concessions were granted up front in this flimsy two-page memorandum of understanding that wouldn’t normally and shouldn’t have been granted until after there was not only a fully comprehensive deal to at least deal with their nuclear program.”

Rice, who served during Clinton and Obama’s tenure, when the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, bashed the MOU earlier this week — calling it “a jaw-dropping, horrific surrender document complete with hundreds of billions in reparations.”

“I oppose this war because it was a stupid war, and it was obvious that when you wage a stupid war — that every prior president had the wisdom to avoid — that you were going to end up with either bad outcomes or worse outcomes,” Rice said Sunday on “This Week.”

Susan Rice says Iran can now restrict Hormuz anytime

“Iran has now figured out they can use the Strait of Hormuz to hold us and the global economy hostage anytime they want,” she said. “And they’ve been playing that game over the last 48 hours.”

President Donald Trump departs an event for NCAA national champions in the State Dining Room of the White House, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
President Donald Trump departs an event for NCAA national champions in the State Dining Room of the White House, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

The memorandum of understanding, signed earlier this week, is intended to end the months-long conflict with Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The agreement also lifts oil sanctions on Tehran and establishes a 60-day window for negotiations over the future of Iran’s nuclear program.

Trump’s Iran deal gets bipartisan backlash

Trump’s Iran deal has received huge backlash, with Democrats claiming that the deal is a ‘humiliating surrender’ to Iran. Several Republicans are also expressing dissatisfaction with the agreement, particularly the $300 billion reconstruction fund.



A few days ago, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy reacted strongly to the Iran-US agreement, describing it as a “surrender” to Iran while simultaneously arguing that the decision to end the costly and damaging war was right.

“An end to this disastrous war is a good thing – no matter the humiliating terms. Because every day it continues, our nation gets weaker, costs keep going up, Iran gets stronger, and Trump gets further from accomplishing his goals,” Murphy wrote in an X post.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) speaks to the media after attending Congressional briefings on Iran at the U.S. Capitol on March 3, 2026 in Washington, DC. Trump administration Cabinet officials will be briefing all lawmakers in the House and Senate on U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) speaks to the media after attending Congressional briefings on Iran at the U.S. Capitol on March 3, 2026 in Washington, DC.(Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Earlier this month, Graham — who has long held hawkish views on Iran — came out strongly against the initial contours of the deal, expressing his discontent over $300 billion to reconstruct Iran.

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