Former Defense Secretary Mark Esper expressed “serious questions and concerns” about the preliminary U.S.-Iran agreement signed by President Donald Trump. In an interview on NBC's “Meet the Press” on Sunday, host Garrett Haake directly asked Esper if he supports the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Iran.
Esper's Conditional Support
“Well, look, I like the fact that we’ve extended the ceasefire,” Esper replied. “I like the fact that the strait is being opened up, that will provide economic relief to a lot of people, and I like the fact that we’re getting into nuclear talks. But that said, when I look at the MOU, there are many of the points that I have serious questions about and concerns about.”
Noting that “in many ways it’s a wait and see,” he continued, “My principle concern has been that it appears that too many of the incentives in my view have been given up front instead of later in the deal when we’ve seen much more progress on the nuclear aspects of whatever potential agreement comes from this.”
Trust in Iranian Negotiations
Haake then questioned Esper over whether he thinks the Trump administration has been “too trusting of the Iranians” regarding negotiations. “Well, I don’t believe so. You know, you look at many of the players on the team, they’re experienced in foreign policy for some time. I don’t think they trust the Iranians. Nobody trusts the Iranians. I think they put a deal on the table. I think as the vice president said, ‘Let’s give it a shot and see if it works,’ and in that regard I’d say, ‘Yeah, there’s a lot more of this football game to play out.’”
Strait of Hormuz Concerns
Haake went on to mention that it’s still not totally clear if the strait is open or closed before asking Esper if he thinks that makes the agreement “worthless” if Iran can still open and shut the strait or charge fees on it. Esper said that would “clearly” suggest a “strategic setback.”
“We cannot allow the Iranians to control the Strait of Hormuz … and that’s why I say this needs to play out. And, you know, there’s been some suggestions that there have been side agreements, or gentlemen’s agreements, we need to know what those are. But I think we need to let this play out a little bit and see what actually happens with regard to the strait after the 60 days.”
Advice to the President
Elsewhere in the interview, Haake asked if Esper trusts that the president is being given advice by “people who think their loyalty is to the Constitution.” “I don’t see that the president is always getting good advice, and so I think that’s the question to ask. I think Republicans on Capitol Hill have asked that same question. Is the president getting the best advice with regard to these strategic matters?”
Background of the Agreement
Esper’s remarks came following conflicted messaging from the Trump administration last week about the agreement being reached and when the text of the memorandum would be released. The memorandum was reportedly signed Wednesday by Trump, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and the prime minister of Pakistan. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance said Sunday there is an opportunity to “turn over a new leaf” with Iran as both sides held talks in Switzerland to build out the shaky interim deal to end the war in Iran after Tehran said it closed the Strait of Hormuz because of Israel’s attacks in Lebanon.
