Pence Criticizes New Iran Accord as ‘Appeasement,’ Echoes Trump’s Past Stance

Former Vice President Mike Pence has voiced strong disapproval of a recent Memorandum of Understanding with Iran, asserting that it represents a form of appeasement reminiscent of policies Donald Trump previously rejected. Pence made his critique in an opinion piece published in The Wall Street Journal.

Pence’s Assessment of the Iran Agreement

While acknowledging the desire for peace and praising President Trump’s assertive stance against Tehran, Pence characterized the newly signed agreement as fundamentally insufficient. “The president deserves tremendous credit for taking the fight directly to Tehran, and every American should welcome the prospect of peace. No one wants another prolonged war in the Middle East, despite the flippant accusations from isolationists on the populist right,” Pence wrote.

However, he elaborated on his concerns, stating, “But the memorandum of understanding with Iran signed last week falls well short of what is required to end the Iranian threat. It smacks of the kind of appeasement the president rightly rejected during our first term. It isn’t the deal a defeated Iran should be getting. It isn’t even a deal—it’s a plan to make a plan.”

Maximum Pressure Strategy

Pence credited the previous administration’s “maximum pressure” strategy for bringing Iran to the negotiating table. He argued that America’s military strength and economic blockades had been effective, asserting, “Maximum pressure worked. America’s military strength worked. The blockade worked. Iran came to the table because the regime’s existence teetered on a knife’s edge.”

Demands for the 60-Day Period

Looking ahead, Pence outlined specific objectives that he believes should be achieved during the agreement’s 60-day window. “This 60-day period should be used to secure what this agreement doesn’t yet provide: an end to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, an end to Iranian-backed terror, and an end to its half-century of warfare against the U.S. and Israel,” he stated.

Pence concluded with a stark warning, adding, “If those reasonable goals cannot be achieved, Mr. Trump should let the armed forces finish the job.”