STATEMENT: Gottheimer on Agreement Between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, June 18, 2026, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) released the following statement:

“I am totally dumbfounded by this agreement, and, like many, in a state of disbelief. After spending his presidency crowing about American strength and leadership in the world, Donald Trump signed a document that screams weakness and desperation. 

Let me be clear: the Iranian Regime is a brutal, tyrannical regime and a sworn enemy of the American people. Under the banner ‘Death to America,’ they are the world’s leading state sponsor of terror and have American blood on their hands. The Iranian Regime deserves to be crushed for its decades of relentless terror against us, our allies, and the repressive rule of the Iranian people, resulting in the brutal massacres and executions of its own people for seeking freedom.

Yet, we got nothing. Not one core objective was meaningfully met. 

No agreement on nuclear weapons. No agreement on ballistic missiles. No agreement on drones. No agreement on funding of terror proxies. We’ve seen this movie before — in Ukraine and in Gaza — where we’re told a better deal is coming in the next stage, but it never materializes. 

In a rush to claim a win, we seem to be selling out Israel, our key democratic ally in the fight against terror, along with our Gulf partners, who have faced relentless Iranian missile and drone attacks — all while paying off Iran, the world’s greatest funder of terror. 

What have we gotten in return? A litany of empty, warmed-over promises, a bunch of hot air, and the reopening of a waterway that was never closed before this conflict began. By every measure, this agreement is an abject failure full of sanctions relief and is akin to, or potentially worse than, the flawed JCPOA under President Obama.

To make matters worse, Trump is kowtowing to Hezbollah terrorists by tying Israel’s hands in Lebanon. All of this comes as our ally is facing daily attacks from Hezbollah on its northern border. This is a gift to terrorists and a betrayal of our allies. 

Throughout this war, there has been zero transparency to Congress or the American public. So, in this instance, and for the sake of our country, I actually hope there are some hidden, favorable terms the Administration is hiding in their pocket. As it stands, I won’t be able to support this agreement when, ultimately, it comes before Congress. Which it must.”

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