'Markets, munitions and midterms' pushed Trump to Iran deal, Michael Doran says

Michael Doran, a former foreign policy official in the George W. Bush administration, offered a different perspective on President Trump's recent deal with Iran, pushing back against sharp criticism from some Republican quarters. Senator Bill Cassidy had labeled the framework deal a "blunder," stating it failed to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions and that Iran learned "threatening the Strait of Hormuz works."

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Iran's nuclear ambitions were not curbed, and they learned that threatening the Strait of Hormuz works.

However, Doran expressed a more nuanced view, calling the situation a "mixed bag" but willing to "give the president the benefit of the doubt." He asserted that Trump has taken significant action against Iran and its proxies, citing operations like "Midnight Hammer" and "Epic Fury." Doran believes Trump has done "more to degrade Iran's capabilities than any other president," suggesting this warrants some leniency in evaluating the current agreement.

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No, I don't agree with that. From my perspective, it's a mixed bag, but I'm willing to give the president the benefit of the doubt.

Addressing the core concerns about Iran's nuclear program, Doran stated that for all practical purposes, it "has been destroyed" and that Iran is not enriching uranium. He highlighted a key clause in the memorandum of understanding that maintains the nuclear status quo as long as negotiations are ongoing. This, he argued, is a fundamental shift from the situation since Iran began enriching uranium in 2006.

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He's gone to war against Iran and its proxies three times just in this term, once against the Houthis, Operation Midnight Hammer, and now Epic Fury. I think he's really done more to degrade Iran's capabilities than any other president, and I think we should give him a little leeway.

Doran also discussed the strategic implications of the deal, noting that it provides the U.S. with crucial time. This period allows for ships to depart the Persian Gulf, and for the U.S. to rearm and replenish its stockpiles in preparation for potential future actions if Iran fails to comply. While acknowledging that this timeline could also allow Iran to replenish its own resources, Doran believes the U.S. holds the upper hand, particularly given Iran's current inability to enrich uranium.

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Well, what's fundamentally changed is that Iran's nuclear program has been destroyed, for all intents and purposes, and they're not enriching uranium.