Rand Paul defends Iran negotiations as hawks pressure Trump

Senator Rand Paul defended President Donald Trump’s Iran negotiations while Republican hawks criticized the emerging peace framework. Paul urged patience for a peaceful outcome as Trump, Marco Rubio, Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and other U.S. officials worked toward a deal that could end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Paul’s position stood apart from Republican critics including Ted Cruz, Roger Wicker, Lindsey Graham, Tom Cotton, Thom Tillis, Mike Pompeo, and John Bolton. The split showed a divide between anti-war conservatives who wanted diplomacy and hawks who wanted tougher terms on sanctions, uranium enrichment, oil sales, and Iranian regional influence.