Cruz, Cornyn Warn Trump-Vance Iran Deal Could Unlock Hundreds of Billions

3 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Jun 21

Texas Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn broke with the Trump administration over the new Iran memorandum, saying provisions that could lift sanctions and restore oil sales raise serious security risks.
Hundreds of billions of dollars could flow to Iran from non-U.S. sources under the deal, and both senators argued the regime would use that money to rebuild missiles, resume enrichment and fund proxies including Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis.
JD Vance, who led the talks, said Iran would get no money from the United States and would benefit only if it fully complies, while Trump cast the agreement as a way to end the conflict, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and block an Iranian nuclear weapon.
The criticism is notable because both senators had backed Trump's 39-day campaign against Iran; Cruz praised the operation for destroying a military he said Tehran took 47 years to build.