Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) cast doubt on the idea that the United States and Iran are nearing a deal, sharing insights on Thursday into a conversation he had with a Qatari diplomat during his trip to the Middle East.
“The deal does not sound imminent, but the parameters are likely pretty skimpy,” Murphy said during a press call on Thursday.
The Connecticut senator, who is also seen as a possible 2028 presidential candidate, visited Qatar and Saudi Arabia this week to meet with foreign leaders from each of the countries about the war in Iran. Murphy told reporters Thursday that he had dinner and a “detailed conversation” with Qatari diplomat Ali al Thawadi, whom Murphy described as a key mediator between the Trump administration and the Iranian regime, about the state of U.S. peace negotiations with Iran.
CHRIS MURPHY TRAVELS TO SAUDI ARABIA AS SIRENS BLARE WARNINGS OF HOUTHI MISSILES
When asked whether or how the current peace negotiations differ from the memorandum of understanding, which was agreed to in June but ultimately fell apart, Murphy said he thinks a possible deal is “going to look very much like the earlier ceasefire deal.”
“The deal that might ultimately emerge is going to look very much like the earlier ceasefire deal, in that it will require an opening of the strait, it will require us to give billions in sanctions relief and release of frozen funds, and it may have some relatively small commitments from the Iranians on restrictions of their nuclear program,” Murphy said Thursday.
“That seems to be the totality of the agreement, but it did not feel to me like that was at all imminent,” he continued.
As a senator, Murphy is not involved with the Trump administration’s peace negotiations with Iran. He opined on the negotiations based on the conversations he said he had with al Thawadi and with the emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad al Thani.
A White House official told the Washington Examiner in response to Murphy’s statement that the U.S. “is in a very strong position with control of the Strait of Hormuz and the Iranian economy collapsing.” The official added that the combination of economic sanctions and the U.S. military blockade of Iranian ports in the strait has “crippled Iran’s economy and has left Iran completely broke.”
“Iran has been decimated, and things will go one of two ways: the easy way or the hard way. President Trump holds all the cards and will do whatever is best for the United States,” the White House official said.
TRUMP PLEDGES NOT TO ATTACK IRAN BEFORE MIDTERM ELECTIONS
On Thursday, President Donald Trump pledged not to attack Iran before the midterm elections. He also wrote in the Truth Social post that the Trump administration is “having productive discussions” with the Iranians.
“Unlike previous Presidents, President Trump will not be played by the Iranian regime. The President is satisfied letting the inevitable Iranian collapse play out,” the White House official told the Washington Examiner.
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[ H/T Washington Examiner ]
