Senator Murphy says he'll back a flawed pact to end Iran conflict

On Sunday morning, Senator Chris Murphy said he would back a “bad deal” to conclude the conflict with Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that the alternative is a continuing war that harms the United States. He explained that the only proposal on the table is terrible, but ending hostilities is essential to stop rising American energy costs. Iran’s side, represented by National Security Council Secretary Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, is demanding that the United States cease threats, end hostilities across the region, lift sanctions, pay war damages, and unfreeze assets.

Those demands are tied to Iran’s negotiations with Oman over the strait. President Donald Trump has claimed personal involvement in the talks and expressed optimism about a near-term agreement. Murphy warned that the current deal would effectively pay Iran roughly $100 billion a year to reopen the waterway, a third of its economy, and could fund its military and proxy networks. He also noted concerns about dwindling U.S. munitions stocks, which he would seek to fund once the war ends.