Trump's Top Team Voices Doubts on Iran Deal: Report
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also raised questions during internal deliberations, according to reports.
Despite US President Donald Trump's announcement of a breakthrough understanding with Iran, several senior members of his administration have reportedly expressed concerns about whether Tehran will honour its commitments under the proposed agreement.
According to a report by Axios, CIA Director John Ratcliffe warned Trump and other top officials that intelligence gathered by US agencies raised serious doubts about Iran's willingness to accept the nuclear restrictions Washington is seeking in a final deal.
Trump on Sunday announced that a memorandum of understanding (MOU) had been reached with Iran, describing it as a major step toward easing tensions and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. He said the agreement would ensure stability and allow global energy supplies to flow without disruption.
However, intelligence assessments discussed during a series of high-level meetings before the announcement reportedly suggested that Iranian officials were privately conveying positions that differed from those presented to mediators and US negotiators.
Axios report added that Ratcliffe, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, questioned whether Iran would ultimately agree to key nuclear concessions demanded by the United States.
The reported concerns centred on intelligence indicating that Tehran's intentions may not align with the commitments outlined in the preliminary agreement.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also raised questions during internal deliberations, according to reports. In contrast, Vice President JD Vance and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were said to have supported moving forward with the understanding.
However, reports added that a White House official defended the agreement, saying Trump considered a range of views before making a decision and remained the final authority on the matter.
According to the official, the MOU meets the administration's core objectives by preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, restricting its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and ensuring it cannot threaten global energy supplies.
The CIA and the State Department declined to comment on the report. A Pentagon spokesperson later stated that Hegseth supports both the peace initiative and Trump's broader objectives.
Under the preliminary framework, Iran is expected to commit to not developing nuclear weapons, halt further uranium enrichment beyond agreed limits and refrain from expanding its nuclear facilities. However, the nuclear provisions of the MOU remain subject to negotiations on a more detailed agreement over the next 60 days.