Joe Wilson, Republican congressman (left) and John Raymond Garamendi, Democrat congressman (Right). Photos/Graphic: Rudaw
WASHINGTON DC - US lawmakers are divided over whether Washington should pursue a new agreement with Iran or prepare for further military confrontation, as President Donald Trump ramps up pressure on Tehran while leaving the door open for diplomacy.
Speaking to Rudaw on Wednesday, Republican Congressman Joe Wilson said he supports Trump’s push for a deal but warned that Iran’s leadership cannot be trusted.
“I’m very grateful that President Trump really wants to reach an agreement to save lives,” Wilson said. “But indeed the [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] IRGC, whoever is running Iran today, it’s clear they’re not trustworthy.”
Wilson added that Washington is coordinating with regional and European allies to pressure Tehran into accepting a verifiable agreement.
“Iran should reach an agreement, but it’s got to be enforceable,” he said, adding that he believes Trump “will eliminate Iran’s capability to obtain nuclear weapons.”
Meanwhile, Democrat Congressman John Garamendi warned against further military escalation, saying negotiations remain the only viable path forward.
“The administration has found itself in a quagmire,” Garamendi told Rudaw. “They initiated this war without thinking through all of the ramifications.”
“We have to go back to war? It’s not a solution,” he added. “It has to be negotiated. It’s going to take time.”
The lawmakers’ comments come after Trump said Tuesday that Iran has only “a limited period of time” to reach a nuclear agreement with Washington.
“There’s no question in my mind that they would use it,” he told reporters referring to Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon. “They’re extremely radicalized.”
The remarks followed a Truth Social post on Monday in which Trump said he had postponed a planned US military strike on Iran after requests from the Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Emirati President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Trump said “serious negotiations” are now underway and expressed confidence that a deal could still be reached guaranteeing “NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS FOR IRAN.” At the same time, he warned that the US military remains prepared to launch a “full-scale, large-scale assault” if diplomacy fails.
The differing reactions from Capitol Hill underscore the growing debate in Washington over how to confront Iran while avoiding a wider conflict in the Middle East.
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