Evian-Les-Bains, June 17: US President Donald Trump concluded the Group of Seven (G7) summit on Wednesday while facing growing scepticism over his proposed agreement with Iran, which he claims will permanently prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
Trump has promoted the deal as a major diplomatic achievement, but concerns remain because neither Washington nor Tehran has released the text of the agreement, leaving key details unclear.
Speaking at the summit in the French Alps, Trump described the memorandum as a “great document” and insisted that its central objective is ensuring Iran never develops, buys or possesses a nuclear weapon.
US and Iranian officials are expected to formally sign the agreement on Friday at a resort on Switzerland’s Lake Lucerne.
Despite Trump’s confidence, doubts persist both domestically and internationally.
Some members of his own Republican Party question whether the agreement is strong enough to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Meanwhile, allies and global observers are watching closely to see whether the deal can help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime route through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s traded oil and natural gas flowed before the conflict disrupted traffic.
Conflicting interpretations of the agreement have further fuelled uncertainty.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi argued that Israel’s continued military presence in southern Lebanon would violate the deal, while Trump suggested that Israeli actions against Hezbollah would not necessarily derail it.
However, he criticised Israel’s prolonged military campaign against Hezbollah, saying too many people had been killed and the conflict had dragged on for too long.
On the sidelines of the summit, Trump met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as G7 leaders discussed alternative energy transport routes that could reduce dependence on the Strait of Hormuz.
After the summit, Trump planned to attend a state dinner hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palace of Versailles, an invitation he said influenced his decision to extend his stay in France.
Iran nuclear programme remains hurdle in US deal
The interim agreement between the United States and Iran is intended to create a 60-day window for negotiations on the most contentious issue dividing the two countries — Iran’s nuclear programme.
US President Donald Trump has argued that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon was a key reason for launching military action alongside Israel earlier this year.
However, critics say the tentative deal leaves limited time to resolve a dispute that has taken years to negotiate in the past.
The agreement, which is expected to be formally signed in Switzerland on Friday, contains few publicly known details.
Broadly, it calls for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to international oil traffic, offers Iran potential financial incentives if it meets specified conditions, and establishes a two-month period for talks aimed at ending Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Despite Trump’s optimism, the deal has been met with widespread scepticism in Washington and among US allies.
Republican and Democratic lawmakers, pro-Israel groups and Israeli officials have questioned whether the arrangement is practical or capable of producing meaningful progress on nuclear issues.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally and longtime critic of Iran, expressed doubts about Tehran’s willingness to compromise.
He said a successful agreement would require Iran to stop uranium enrichment, but acknowledged uncertainty over whether negotiations could ultimately achieve that goal.
Experts and lawmakers remain sceptical that the proposed US-Iran agreement can quickly resolve disputes over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
David Schenker argued that a successful nuclear deal requires sustained focus, technical expertise and detailed negotiations, questioning whether the Trump administration has the capacity to achieve this within the planned timeline.
Vice President JD Vance defended the agreement, saying Iran would receive benefits such as sanctions relief only if it takes concrete steps to dismantle its nuclear weapons programme.
He stressed that US policy would be based on Iranian actions rather than promises.
Critics note that the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action took more than 18 months to negotiate and involved extensive participation by technical experts and international powers.
Several Republicans insist Congress must approve any final deal, while others doubt Iran will comply.
Analysts also question whether broader concerns, including Iran’s missile programme and regional activities, will be addressed in future negotiations. (AP)
