Trump said the prospect of global economic collapse was a key reason he signed a
temporary peace agreement with Iran, exposing a central U.S. weakness ahead of
the next negotiation round. Because Iran knows Trump is reluctant to restart
military action—which would trigger fresh economic turmoil—the pressure on Iran
to conclude talks quickly is reduced. U.S. domestic pressure may further
intensify: a Maryland poll found 56% of Americans believe the war’s negative
effects on U.S. interests outweigh the positive. Former State Department
official Chris Kennedy said the memorandum of understanding’s 14 clauses leave
Iran in an advantageous position on nuclear issues. The agreement also allows
the original 60‑day negotiation period to be “extended,” implying talks could
stretch for months. Former Treasury official Miad Maleki said the outcome is
more favorable to Iran: Iran will not abandon its nuclear program for sanctions
waivers it has already won, and while the U.S. could still escalate militarily,
it has forfeited key economic leverage when it most needed it.
