Vance hits back at Iran deal critics in GOP, Israel: Five takeaways

Vice President Vance took to the White House press briefing podium on Thursday to hit back against a growing chorus of critics of the Trump administration’s deal with Iran after President Trump signed the agreement.

Vance referred to criticism of the preliminary agreement from both sides of the aisle as “fundamentally untrue,” and even took swipes at members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhau’s Cabinet over their attacks on the deal.

The vice president also sought to clarify a number of key issues surrounding the deal, including on sanctions relief and the $300 billion construction fund for Iran.

Vance noted the clock on the 60 days of negotiations following the deal started on Thursday, and said the administration would brief lawmakers “very soon.”

Here are five takeaways from Vance’s briefing:

Says Republican criticisms ‘fundamentally untrue’ 

The preliminary agreement faced criticism even before it was signed on Wednesday evening, with a growing number of Republicans and conservative figures arguing it was too weak on Iran.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) told The Hill on Wednesday that he believes Trump is  

“is receiving some very poor advice on this deal,” while Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) said he worried the agreement “negotiates away the victories of Operation Epic Fury in ways that are completely out of step with the president’s goals.”

Vance hit back at the criticism when specifically asked about Senate Republican pushback on the deal.

“So many of what I’ve read or heard that people believe about this is fundamentally untrue,” Vance said at the briefing.

Vance noted the agreement is a memorandum of understanding, arguing it’s about “rewarding good conduct and punishing bad conduct,” and urged critics “to have a little faith” in President Trump.

“The idea that he is going to strike a deal that’s been bad for the American people, it’s preposterous,” he said. “He is the person who has had the courage to fundamentally transform our relationship with Iran and with a lot of other........

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