Jack Reed accuses Trump of chasing a 'birthday gift' through Iran deal
Sen. Jack Reed: "Reuters is reporting that part of the deal is $24 billion in sanctions relief for the Iranians. So this is not a 'we win and you do what we say.' This is, 'how can we open up the straits? What will it cost us?'" pic.twitter.com/aApKeuGZUe
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 14, 2026
WASHINGTON, DC: While the confusion over the status of the Iran deal continues after Trump and Iran issued contrary statements over the proposal to be signed on Sunday, June 14, Democratic Senator Jack Reed accused the president of trying to secure a “birthday gift” in the form of the deal.
While President Donald Trump confidently declared on Saturday that a sweeping maritime agreement was scheduled to be signed electronically on Sunday, Iranian foreign ministry officials have flatly disputed the executive timeline.
Jack Reed says Americans paid for Trump's birthday gift
Amid the prolonged consequences of the Iran war on the economy, Reed said, “For 100 days we’ve been hearing constantly, there’s going to be a deal, there’s going to be a deal,” Reed said during an appearance on Fox News Sunday.
“I think the precipitating issue today, the president wants to give himself a birthday present, and we have paid for it with hundreds of billions of dollars,” he added.
Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, has long been skeptical of Trump’s engagement with Tehran, arguing that any new agreement would largely resemble the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) negotiated under former President Barack Obama.
Trump withdrew from the accord in 2018, ending US participation in the deal that restricted Iran’s nuclear program and subjected its facilities to regular inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
“We have spent billions of dollars. We’ve lost 14 personnel killed in action, hundreds wounded, and we disrupted the world economy, and we’re getting basically less than what we had under the JCPOA, which President Trump walked away from,” Reed told host Shannon Bream.
Jack Reed applauds possibility of Hormuz reopening
The Rhode Island Democrat, however, applauded a reported component of the agreement that would ensure the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
“I think the one point you could emphasize is that the Strait will open. I think that’s the purpose, because that is something that will help alleviate this economic crisis,” Reed said.
“But the other part of this is … Reuters is reporting that part of the deal is $24 billion in sanctions released to the Iranians. So this is not a- ‘we win, and you do what we say’. This is, ‘How can we open up the straits? What will it cost us?’” he continued.
Vice President JD Vance on Friday said that the terms of the agreement are based on Tehran’s performance in fulfilling its side of the deal.
I'm seeing a lot of fake information about a potential deal to reopen the Strait and end Iran's nuclear weapons program. First, the Iranians are not receiving any cash, and no funds are being released for simply signing a deal or attending a meeting. The deal is structured to…
— JD Vance (@JDVance) June 12, 2026
“First, the Iranians are not receiving any cash, and no funds are being released for simply signing a deal or attending a meeting,” the vice president wrote in a post on X.
“The deal is structured to ensure that the US and its allies' concerns are prioritized, and that if the Islamic Republic of Iran meets its obligations, then economic benefits will flow to them and to the entire region. This deal has the potential to remake the region and lead to lasting peace,” he added.
