Trump Accused of Being Outmanoeuvred by Iran After Signing MoU
President Donald Trump’s deal with Iran to end the war has backfired domestically. US media outlets have united in sharp criticism, assessing that the move failed to meet pre-war targets and instead benefited Tehran with substantial concessions.
Trump signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Iran on Wednesday (17/6) aimed at ending the Middle East conflict that had shaken the global economy. However, rather than quelling criticism, the agreement immediately sparked a wave of rejection from various quarters, including war opponents and some supporters of US foreign policy.
One of the sharpest critiques came from television network MS NOW. “The White House agreed to this ceasefire extension, which fails to meet any of its pre-war objectives, while granting enormous financial concessions to Tehran,” the US TV network stated. “Now, the administration is desperately trying to deny it. Simply put, Trump has been outmanoeuvred by Iran, and no one believes his attempts at a defence,” the outlet said, as reported by AFP news agency on Thursday (18/6/2026).
Criticism also came from mainstream media the Wall Street Journal. It described the deal as “widely seen as the president’s biggest foreign policy gamble in his second term.” The newspaper also assessed that Trump “will face resistance from Iran policy advocates who say the president is giving far more than he is getting.”
Meanwhile, Fox News, long known for its closeness to Trump, also highlighted similar criticism. It said the deal gives Iran “enormous financial benefits” without any obligation to halt its nuclear programme. Under the agreement, the United States is said to be facilitating the release of USD 300 billion in reconstruction funds to Iran, backed by regional countries. “President Donald Trump’s proposed Iran deal is drawing sharp criticism from some of his strongest supporters, who argue the agreement rewards Tehran before it agrees to fully dismantle its nuclear programme,” Fox wrote.