WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump faced sharp criticism from within his own party on Wednesday as disagreements over the ongoing Iran conflict and a recently signed peace framework surfaced during a closed-door meeting with Republican lawmakers.
According to several attendees, Trump became involved in a heated exchange with Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, who questioned the administration’s handling of the conflict and called for greater transparency regarding the agreement reached with Iran.
Cassidy argued that the public deserved more information about a framework deal signed last week that includes financial incentives for Tehran but does not fully align with the objectives originally outlined by the administration at the start of the war.
“The American people need to know more than we are being told,” Cassidy told reporters afterwards. “It does not appear, although I don’t know for sure, that the course of this is going the way that we were told.”
The confrontation highlighted growing unease among some Republicans as the conflict continues to influence domestic politics ahead of November elections that will determine control of Congress.
Later in the day, Senate Republican leaders scheduled a late-night vote to block a resolution aimed at ending hostilities with Iran. The measure was defeated by a vote of 50-47, largely along party lines.
Cassidy, who had previously supported war powers resolutions related to Iran, voted against the measure, while Senator Rand Paul voted present.
Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski joined most Democrats in supporting the resolution. Democratic Senator John Fetterman was the only member of his party to vote against it. Senators Mitch McConnell and Michael Bennet did not participate in the vote.
Following the outcome, Trump wrote on social media: “This vote puts Iran on notice,” although the vote itself did not alter previous congressional action regarding the conflict.
The dispute comes as Trump’s approval ratings have declined amid public concerns over the war. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that only one in four Americans believe the conflict has been worth its cost.
The exchange with Cassidy occurred one day after the Senate voted in favour of directing Trump to end the war through a separate resolution previously approved by the House of Representatives. Cassidy was among four Republicans who supported that effort alongside Democrats.
Trump later criticised the Senate’s actions while speaking to reporters at the White House.
“Iran sees that, they go, ‘What’s that all about?’. Now you know, it’s meaningless, right?” he said.
Hours after the congressional dispute, the administration formally requested an additional $70 billion from Congress to cover the costs of the conflict, adding to the existing $867 billion defence budget.
In an apparent effort to ease tensions, Cassidy later revealed that he had received a detailed briefing from Vice President JD Vance and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
“I appreciate the quick invitation to the White House to address many of my concerns,” Cassidy wrote on X, thanking both officials for “the thorough briefing this afternoon on Iran”.
Meanwhile, global oil prices fell to their lowest level since before the war began, reflecting optimism over the initial agreement between Washington and Tehran, which resulted in the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and restored shipping traffic through one of the world’s most important energy routes.
Before the conflict, approximately 20 per cent of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passed through the waterway.
Despite the progress, significant disagreements remain over key elements of the agreement, including sanctions relief, inspection of nuclear facilities, management of the Strait of Hormuz and the wider regional conflict involving Israel and Lebanon.
The framework agreement establishes a 60-day negotiation period during which both sides will attempt to resolve outstanding issues, particularly regarding Iran’s nuclear programme.
The proposed deal has also generated concern among several Middle Eastern governments that endured Iranian attacks during the conflict and believe the agreement grants excessive concessions to Tehran.
Among the concerns are a proposed $300 billion reconstruction fund and the easing of certain sanctions. Gulf states fear that such measures could enable Iran to rebuild its military capabilities.
The agreement also leaves unresolved the issue of Iran’s ballistic missile programme, a major security concern for many regional countries.
Under the current arrangement, Iran has agreed to allow free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days. However, Iranian officials have suggested that transit fees could be considered once the negotiation period concludes.
Diplomatic sources indicate that Iran may propose environmental, navigation and security-related charges during future talks with Gulf states. The United States and its regional allies oppose any such fees.
Speaking during a visit to Kuwait, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to reassure regional partners.
“We’re not going to do anything that undermines the security of our allies, our longstanding allies in the region,” he said.
Elsewhere, Lebanese and Israeli representatives met in Washington to discuss a US-backed proposal that would involve Israeli forces withdrawing from some areas in southern Lebanon and transferring control to the Lebanese army.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel would not withdraw its troops.
Israel has been engaged in conflict with Hezbollah since the group launched attacks on March 2 in support of Iran. Tehran has repeatedly insisted that ending hostilities in Lebanon is a key requirement for any lasting agreement with the United States.
Violence continued on Wednesday when an Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon killed two people, according to Lebanese sources. Israel said it had targeted two armed Hezbollah fighters, though it was not immediately clear whether both reports referred to the same incident.
