President Donald Trump is moving toward a formal agreement with Iran aimed at ending hostilities and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, but several of his top national security officials reportedly remain unconvinced that Tehran is prepared to fulfill key commitments related to its nuclear program.
According to Axios, concerns have emerged within the administration as intelligence assessments raise questions about whether Iranian officials are privately signaling a different position than the one being presented in diplomatic negotiations. The reported skepticism comes as U.S. and Iranian representatives prepare for additional talks ahead of a signing ceremony expected later this week in Switzerland.
Among those reportedly expressing doubts are CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The officials are said to have reviewed intelligence suggesting that Iran's internal discussions may not align with the commitments being communicated to mediators.
"The intelligence reflects that the Iranian intentions are not in line with their commitments under the deal," one source told Axios.
The reported divisions highlight the challenge facing the Trump administration as it seeks to secure an agreement that the White House says will permanently block Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon while restoring stability to a region shaken by months of conflict.
Despite the concerns, the administration continues to publicly defend the framework. A White House official told Axios that internal debate is part of the decision-making process but emphasized that the president remains firmly in control.
"President Trump listens to all opinions on any given issue - but everyone understands he is the final decision-maker," the official said.
The official also argued that the proposed memorandum satisfies the administration's longstanding objectives. "This MOU meets all of the redlines that the administration has long articulated by ensuring that Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon, they cannot keep their highly enriched uranium, and they cannot hold the world's energy supply hostage," the official added.
Details of the agreement remain largely unknown. The text has not yet been released publicly, leaving analysts, lawmakers and foreign governments waiting to assess the exact obligations both sides would undertake.
Trump indicated Monday that the document could be made public soon after the signing ceremony. Speaking alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, Trump emphasized his desire for transparency regarding the agreement.
"I want it to be released because it's a very powerful document," Trump said. "It's not like the Obama document, which was just a terrible document. This is a very powerful document and I want it to be released, so probably pretty soon."
Vice President JD Vance acknowledged that significant negotiations still lie ahead before a final settlement can be fully implemented. Speaking on CNBC's Squawk Box, Vance described the current agreement as an important step but not the end of the process.
"There are a lot of very important details to figure out that we're actually going to sit at the table and discuss together and figure out a path forward on these details," Vance said.
Vance identified two priorities that he said underpin the agreement: reopening the Strait of Hormuz and securing a formal Iranian commitment to abandon any pursuit of nuclear weapons. He also suggested that compliance could lead to broader economic benefits for Tehran, including sanctions relief and greater integration into global markets.
