Trump’s Cease-Fire Pact with Iran Evokes Cautious Relief and Lawmakers’ Queries

(SeaPRwire) –   Members of Congress responded to President Donald Trump’s last-minute cease-fire agreement with Iran with a blend of relief and careful hope, though Democrats and certain conservatives raised doubts about the path toward a lasting reduction in tensions.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R, S.C.), a hawkish figure who has previously backed U.S. military intervention in Iran, commended the agreement. He also urged Congress to participate in evaluating a 10-point plan presented by Iran that might result in the removal of U.S. troops from the area.

”Like everyone, I hope we can end the reign of terror of the Iranian regime through diplomacy,” Graham stated on social media, noting that “time will tell.”

“I want to reaffirm that from my point of view, every ounce of the approximately 900 lbs. of highly enriched uranium has to be controlled by the U.S. and removed from Iran to prevent them in the future from having a dirty bomb or returning to the enrichment business,” Graham remarked.

During his announcement on Tuesday, Trump stated that Iran’s 10-point proposal was “workable” and that “almost all” significant disagreements had been resolved in principle, hinting that a breakthrough might be imminent.

Utah Republican Rep. Burgess Owens described the agreement as a “very positive step towards a lasting peace,” whereas Rep. Brett Guthrie (R, Ky.) remarked, “I pray that the end of hostilities will be lasting.”

A few Republican legislators previously delivered a rare criticism of the President following his threat to destroy “a whole civilization” should Iran fail to reach an accord with Washington. Speaking on a podcast released Tuesday, Sen. Ron Johnson (R, Wis.) expressed hope that the President’s comments were merely “bluster,” emphasizing that the U.S. is “not at war with the Iranian people” but is rather “trying to liberate them.” Additionally, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R, Alaska) posted on social media hours before the cease-fire announcement, arguing that the threat “cannot be excused away as an attempt to gain leverage in negotiations with Iran.”

Certain conservative pundits pointed out the challenges of enforcing a lasting peace agreement with Iran’s theocratic government. “I don’t trust the enemy; the enemy has shown for half a century that every deal it signs, it violates,” American conservative media personality Mark Levin stated on Fox News Tuesday night. “How do we enforce it?”

‘Insufficient’ cease-fire

In a statement on social media, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D, N.Y.) noted that he was “glad Trump backed off and is desperately searching for any sort of exit ramp from his ridiculous bluster.”

Other Democrats argued the agreement did not go far enough to stop the fighting. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D, N.Y.) told CNN that “a two-week cease-fire is insufficient.”

Trump’s violent threats and escalation regarding the conflict with Iran have sparked worries about potential war crimes. This has led lawmakers and critics to discuss the possibility of invoking the 25th Amendment, which outlines procedures for removing a president, or pursuing impeachment.

Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York posted on social media that Trump’s announcement regarding the cease-fire deal “changes nothing.”

“The President has threatened a genocide against the Iranian people, and is continuing to leverage that threat,” Ocasio-Cortez continued. “He has launched a massive war of enormous risk and of catastrophic consequence without reason, rationale, nor Congressional authorization – which is as clear a violation of the Constitution as any. Each day this goes on, the risk and criminality of these actions escalate for our nation and the world.”