Trump faces criticism from Republicans over Iran war strategy

US President Donald Trump faced sharp criticism from members of his own Republican Party as concerns grew over his administration's handling of the Iran conflict

US President Donald Trump faced sharp criticism from members of his own Republican Party during a private meeting on Wednesday as concerns grew over his administration’s handling of the Iran conflict and the recently announced framework agreement with Tehran.

According to several Republican lawmakers who attended the closed meeting, Trump became involved in a heated argument with Senator Bill Cassidy after the senator questioned the administration’s approach. Cassidy urged the White House to provide a clearer explanation of the agreement signed with Iran, saying it appeared to fall short of the objectives the administration had set when the conflict began.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Cassidy said the American public deserved greater transparency. He explained that many questions remained unanswered and suggested that the situation did not seem to be developing as originally promised. His comments reflected growing concern among some Republicans about the direction of US policy.

The disagreement highlighted increasing political pressure on Trump as the country moves closer to the November congressional elections. Public opinion has also shifted in recent weeks. A Reuters and Ipsos poll found that only one in four Americans believe the war was worth its cost. The survey also showed Trump’s approval rating has dropped to its lowest level since returning to the White House.

The dispute followed a Senate vote a day earlier in which lawmakers passed a largely symbolic resolution calling on the president to end the war. Cassidy joined three other Republican senators in supporting the measure alongside Democrats, signalling that criticism of the conflict has crossed party lines.

Although Trump did not directly address the exchange with Cassidy, he dismissed the Senate vote while speaking to reporters at the White House. He argued that the resolution had no practical effect and suggested it would not influence the administration’s decisions. Later the same day, the White House asked Congress to approve an additional 70 billion dollars to cover war related expenses, adding to the country’s already massive defence budget.

After the meeting, Cassidy said he appreciated receiving a detailed briefing from Vice President JD Vance and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. He thanked both officials for addressing many of the concerns he had raised during the discussion.

Meanwhile, developments in the Middle East continued to shape the debate. The temporary agreement between Washington and Tehran has reopened shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, easing concerns over global oil supplies. As a result, international oil prices fell to their lowest level since before the conflict began.

Despite that progress, many details of the agreement remain unresolved. Negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme, inspections of its facilities, sanctions and future shipping arrangements are expected to continue during a 60 day negotiation period. Several Gulf countries remain cautious, fearing the agreement gives Iran too many financial benefits without limiting its military capabilities.

At the same time, Israeli and Lebanese officials met in Washington to discuss a US backed proposal concerning southern Lebanon. The plan would see parts of the area transferred to Lebanese Army control. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected any suggestion of withdrawing troops from the region. Fighting also continued on Wednesday after an Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon reportedly killed two people, while Israel said it had targeted Hezbollah fighters operating in the area.