🤝“Iran Deal” Edition

Trump’s Iran deal is being hailed as a historic breakthrough by people who haven’t read it, defended by officials who disagree about what’s in it, and celebrated before anyone knows whether it’s actually in effect.

The agreement supposedly reopens the Strait of Hormuz, lifts some sanctions, launches nuclear negotiations, and prevents future conflict. Unfortunately, the United States and Iran appear to have negotiated entirely different versions of the same deal. One side says Iran gets benefits only after complying. The other side says the benefits start immediately. Shipping companies aren’t sure whether the strait is open, Israeli officials aren’t sure they’ll follow all the terms, and even the White House can’t decide when the text will be released.

The nuclear issue—the whole reason for the negotiations in the first place—hasn’t actually been resolved. Instead, the deal creates 60 days of future negotiations to discuss the possibility of someday resolving the nuclear issue. It’s the diplomatic equivalent of announcing you’ve solved your debt problems by scheduling a meeting with your accountant.

Meanwhile, critics are asking what Iran is receiving in return. Administration officials insist there are no secret giveaways, while simultaneously discussing “small gestures” involving sanctions relief and frozen funds. Iranian media, naturally, has a much more generous interpretation.

In fairness, the deal has already achieved one thing: it has united hawks, doves, shipping companies, foreign governments, Congress, Israel, and Iran in agreeing that they have absolutely no idea what the final agreement actually says.

KAL - Substack and Andrews McMeel

Bill Bramhall - Tribune Content Agency

Nick Anderson - Tribune Content Agency and Substack

Dave Granlund - cagle.com/granlund

Clay Bennett - Tribune Content Agency

Rob Rogers - Tinyview Comics and Andrews McMeel

Pedro Molina - Tinyview and Tribune Content Agency

Mike Smith - King Features

Jack Ohman - Substack and Tribune Content Agency