Cruz: ‘Giving billions of dollars to lunatics’ in Iran ‘is not a good idea’

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Wednesday raised concerns about major concessions to Iran made in President Trump’s memorandum of understanding to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning that Trump is not getting good advice from his advisers.

“History teaches that giving billions of dollars to theocratic lunatics who want to murder us is not a good idea. I think the president is receiving some very poor advice on this deal,” Cruz told The Hill.

He made his comments after the Trump administration released the full text of the peace deal with Iran, which would lift sanctions on Iranian oil exports and give Iran access to a $300 billion reconstruction fund.

The memorandum calls on the United States to “terminate all types of sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the United Nations Security Council resolutions, I.A.E.A. Board of Governors resolutions, and all unilateral U.S. sanctions, primary and secondary, in an agreed-upon schedule as part of the final deal.”

The memorandum also states that the Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms its long-stated position that it will not procure or develop nuclear weapons.

It states the United States and Iran have agreed to resolve the disposition of stockpiled, enriched nuclear material with a requirement that Iran “down-blend” or dilute its weapons-grade material.

Other Republicans have also blasted the proposed peace deal, including Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who on Wednesday called it the “worst foreign policy blunder in decades.”

“Reagan is rolling over in his grave. Iran’s nuclear ambitions were not curbed, and they have learned that threatening the Strait of Hormuz works and will undoubtedly leverage it in the future. Now, Iran gets to build brand-new infrastructure under this deal,” Cassidy posted on the social platform X.