Free Republic

The Department of War is reportedly seeking $80 billion to cover costs associated with the Iran conflict and other unrelated expenses, according to The Wall Street Journal.Deputy War Secretary Stephen Feinberg has told lawmakers in recent phone calls that the Pentagon needs additional funding to sustain military operations tied to the conflict with Iran and cover other expenses, people familiar with the discussions told the Journal. Congress has been pressing the Trump administration for a comprehensive accounting of the war's costs since the conflict began Feb. 28. Lawmakers from both parties have expressed concern about the depletion of U.S. munitions...

WORLD — Global leaders rushed to sign up for Trump's incredible offer to have the U.S. bomb their country for a few weeks and then give them $300 billion. Sources within the White House reported days of jammed phone lines as countries from Mali to Uruguay repeatedly called to see if their country could be next. "Pick me, pick me," said Chilean President Jose Kast. "We are more than happy to hide out for a couple weeks in exchange for $300 billion. How do we get to the top of the list? Do we need to give some cash to...

During a morning show interview, the vice president claimed that there are simply “some diplomatic protocols” that he can’t fully comprehend

The right has reached a verdict on President Trump’s memorandum of understanding with Iran, and the verdict is rage…. They are probably right about Iran. They are wrong about the document and they are very wrong about what it will mean if and when Iran cheats. The deal is so clearly beneficial for Iran that if they do not abide by it, then the world will know they are so deranged that actions taken against them will be completely justifiable…. The trap is baited with the one thing Tehran cannot resist, the appearance of having won, and it springs on...

On Wednesday via X, Donald Trump Jr. alleged that Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) — an ally of President Donald Trump — is “lying thru his teeth” with his recent comments on the administration’s memorandum of understanding with Iran. Speaking with The Daily Wire on Wednesday, Cruz said of the deal to end the conflict in the region: What has been released so far suggests that, unfortunately, the president is getting, I think, very poor advice when it comes to this deal. History teaches that giving billions of dollars to theocratic lunatics who want to murder us is a bad idea....

It's time to release the Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran. Speculation is running rampant about what's in it, and leaks from the administration are making Trump's allies very nervous because they all seem to suggest that Iran's propaganda about what's in it is largely accurate. Vice President Vance is spinning like a top that it's really a great deal, and all the great benefits Iran claims it will get depend on performance, but unless we know what is in the MOU, we don't know what "performance" really means. (snip) One thing we do know is that...

Newly revealed details of the secretive US-Iran MOU lay out that it would extend the cease-fire to Lebanon, allow Iran to manage the Strait of Hormuz, temporarily waive Iranian oil sanctions and establish a pathway toward a comprehensive peace agreement, Israel’s Channel 12 reported Tuesday. The framework, which would serve as the basis for broader negotiations between Washington and Tehran, outlines commitments on nuclear issues, sanctions relief, maritime security and the eventual withdrawal of American forces from the region. The following 12 points were first revealed by Axios reporter Barak Ravid, who also works for the Israeli channel. The document...

The Trump administration is considering backing the creation of a massive $300 billion reconstruction and investment fund for Iran if Tehran fulfills commitments under a newly signed memorandum of understanding and ultimately reaches a broader settlement on its nuclear program and regional conduct. President Donald Trump has called reports that the U.S. will pay Iran $300 billion "fake news" — but Vice President JD Vance and others confirmed the establishment of a global fund paid by an international coalition to aid Tehran as real.According to reports from the Financial Times and other outlets, the proposed fund would not be financed...

This Great Deal will bring Peace and Security to the whole Region. Many presidents have tried to make Peace with Iran, and all have failed before me. The Leaders of the Region have, for the first time, found a President who can help them achieve real Peace. With the opening of the Strait upon the signing of the Deal on Friday, for purposes of mine removal, oil will flow on both ends again for the Region, and the World! President DONALD J. TRUMP

The main headline of Sunday’s Yediot Aharonot, a popular Hebrew daily, summed up in two words the prevailing sentiment in Israel over President Trump’s emerging cease-fire agreement with Iran: “Bad Deal.” Israel waged two wars against Iran in the past year, the most recent one the campaign launched in late February with U.S. forces. Now Israel, which had not been a party to the Trump administration’s negotiations with Iran, is being left out of the potential peace... Even before the announcement came on Sunday that a cease-fire agreement had been reached, the details that had surfaced in news media reports...

Israeli officials were left “stunned” by US President Donald Trump’s public criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s decision to strike Hezbollah targets in Beirut. They are increasingly concerned that a prospective US-Iran agreement could sharply restrict Israel’s military freedom of action in Lebanon, Channel 12 reports. A senior Israeli official close to Netanyahu tells the Hebrew network that officials in Jerusalem were taken aback by Trump’s remarks, which included accusing the premier of having “no fucking judgement,” saying: “Trump’s statement is a resounding slap in the face. The restrictions [on Israel] have been taken to another level. The...

Iran has agreed not to build a nuclear weapon and to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, in return the US will release some $25 billion in frozen assets as part of a President Trump-brokered peace deal, according to details released by Tehran on Sunday.Washington and Tehran are expected to electronically sign a memorandum of understanding on Sunday following a virtual meeting, which will set the table for negotiations over a longer-term deal on Iran’s nuclear program, Axios reported. On Saturday, US President Donald Trump and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said a deal would be signed on Sunday and would...

The U.S. and Iran, together with Pakistani and Qatari mediators, are expected to hold a virtual meeting on Sunday and electronically sign a memorandum of understanding that will extend the ceasefire by 60 days, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and launch negotiations over Iran's nuclear program. (snip) What they're saying: "We are closer to a peace deal than ever before. With finalization likely expected in the next 24 hours, Pakistan is preparing for the electronic signing of the peace deal immediately after, followed by technical level talks next week," Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wrote on X on Saturday. Shortly...

Republicans on Capitol Hill are seething that Donald Trump is not more focused on the economy as this year's midterm elections approach, warning it could obliterate the narrow GOP congressional majority. Polling indicates that voters are souring on Trump and his Republican allies in Congress ahead of his November's elections that will prove fateful for the President's agenda. In addition to the lack of attention to fixing the economy, senior aides also identified the nomination of Federal Housing Finance Director Bill Pulte, a close ally of the President, to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence as an...

Vice President JD Vance hit back at critics on Friday over what the Trump administration claims is an emerging deal with Iran to end the war. Vance blasted critics who “say you can’t trust a word said” by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, just over an hour after Trump declared “there is no such thing as dealing in good faith” with Iran. Iranian state media published what it claimed were details from the potential agreement, which showed heavy concessions from the U.S. in the form of a $300 billion payment for reconstruction, the removal of U.S. troops from the region,...

An Iranian state news outlet said Friday that an agreement with the U.S., which President Trump touted the previous day as a "great settlement of the war," includes the U.S. releasing $24 billion of frozen Iranian financial assets. Iran's semi-official Mehr News agency published what it said was a draft of the 14-point agreement Friday. It includes a stipulation that Iran's assets will be released during a 60-day extension of the current ceasefire, which would begin as soon as the deal comes into effect. Iran's Foreign Ministry cautioned earlier that the regime had yet to fully commit to the agreement....

A U.S. official says the U.S. military shot down two Iranian drones that were trying to strike commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz tonight. “It appears Iran has attempted to strike commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz tonight. U.S. forces shot down two Iranian one-way attack drones. Traffic flow through the Strait continues,” the official said. The attack occurred after Trump spoke about being close to a deal with Iran this afternoon.

President Trump announced that he canceled planned strikes against Iran on Thursday and claimed Iran's leadership "approved" a draft agreement that would extend the ceasefire, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and launch 60 days of negotiations on Iran's nuclear program. (snip)The sources said the gaps were narrowed on three key issues: The mechanism for releasing Iran's frozen assets — the most important issue for the Iranians.Arrangements for reopening the Strait of Hormuz during the 60-day ceasefire period.How negotiations over Iran's nuclear program would be conducted during the 60-day ceasefire period.

US President Donald Trump said the United States may begin striking Iran's power plants and bridges due to the Islamic regime “tapping the United States along” in talks, according to an interview with Fox News's Trey Yingst on Wednesday. "I may keep going," Trump told Fox. "They had a chance to sign a deal and survive." He added that little progress has been made in negotiations between the two countries. Earlier on Wednesday, Trump implied that he would take action against Iran for taking too long on a peace deal. "The Bully of the Middle East is DEAD!!!" wrote Trump...

President Donald Trump told the media on Wednesday, “I love the inflation” report that came out earlier in the morning, showing inflation had risen above 4% for the first time in three years. “Are you concerned, Mr. President, about the latest inflation number, which came out this morning? Could that be a–” a reporter asked Trump during an Oval Office Q&A. Trump cut in and answered, “No, I love it. The numbers were great. You know what I really love? I love the inflation.” “You know why? Because as soon as this war is over, you know, I can say...