Former Vice President Mike Pence broke publicly with the Trump administration over its memorandum of understanding with Iran, saying he has “great concerns” about the deal.
In an interview with Bloomberg Government,
“Iran is on its back heel right now, weaker than it’s ever been before,” Pence said. “My concerns about the MOU, now that we’ve seen it, have to do with the fact that there’s no mention of verifiably dismantling the nuclear weapons program. It only reiterates the same promise that Iran has made in years past about not having a nuclear program.”
READ MORE: Read the 14-Point Draft Memorandum Between the US and Iran
Pence added that the MOU “oddly” calls for a further discussion of nuclear issues within the next 60 days.
Pence urged his former boss to return to the negotiating table for a stronger deal.
“I would encourage the administration to step back, continue the blockade,” Pence said. “That’s probably the greatest concern that I have about the MOU — while it does not include the core elements that we need, verifiably dismantling the nuclear weapons program, the ballistic missile program, ending funding for terrorists, there is an immediate lifting of economic sanctions on the sale of oil and energy products.”
A formal signing ceremonial of the document is expected in Geneva on Friday. It calls for a halt to fighting on all fronts for 60 days and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.