Sean Hannity defends Trump's Iran deal, says it goes 'way deeper'
WASHINGTON, DC: Television anchor Sean Hannity defended President Donald Trump’s Iran agreement by claiming key parts of the deal have not been disclosed to the public.
The agreement has drawn criticism from several conservative allies. Hannity argued those concerns overlook what he says is a deeper understanding that remains unreleased.
Sean Hannity points to undisclosed Iran agreement details
During his Fox News program, Hannity said reactions to the memorandum signed by Trump were missing a larger picture.
“Now, I had a conversation with the president, and I’ve talked to [US negotiator] Steve Witkoff, I’ve talked to others in the administration,” Hannity said.
“There is so much more under the surface that has already been discussed in deep detail surrounding Iran and this working agreement,” he added.
He suggested critics were focusing too heavily on the document itself while ignoring Trump's own comments about enforcing the arrangement.
“I see many people reacting to the memorandum itself that are completely ignoring those words of Donald Trump,” Hannity said, adding that the president told him directly he had “no problem at all” returning to military action if Iran violated the agreement.
Hannity did not explain why the alleged additional provisions have not been made public.
Conservatives question Trump's Iran agreement
Trump formally signed a memorandum of understanding in Versailles, France, on Wednesday.
The arrangement contains 14 provisions and could ultimately end the war. According to the agreement, Iran would allow ships to travel freely through the Strait of Hormuz, and the United States would end its naval blockade of Iran, and Tehran would gain access to at least $300 billion in financing.
Those terms have triggered criticism from several prominent conservatives.
Fox News host Mark Levin called the agreement “unthinkable.” Fox News contributor Trey Gowdy argued the deal would make Iran “richer.”
Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said Trump was receiving “very poor advice.”
The criticism has created pressure on Trump allies to explain and defend the agreement as concerns spread among parts of the conservative movement.
Sean Hannity says Trump's words matter more
Hannity repeatedly argued that Trump's public statements should carry more weight than the written memorandum.
“To me, his words are far more impactful than any memorandum if you want to know what’s in the president’s head and what he’s thinking,” the host said.
Later in the broadcast, he became even more explicit about what he described as unreleased aspects of the agreement.
“So there’s a lot of talk and analysis about the memorandum versus the words of Donald Trump that he’ll rain down hell on them if, in fact, the very things he’s been articulating throughout this conflict are not fulfilled at the end of this deal,” Hannity said.
He then suggested the public has not yet seen the full scope of the understanding.
“I put way more stock in what the president is saying himself and what the president has outlined himself, and the understanding that they have gone way deeper than that document that was released today, except they are not telling people yet,” Hannity said.
