'Actually Impressive': Former GOP lawmaker shreds Trump's Iran 'victory' narrative as gaslighting

Former Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger slammed the Trump administration's negotiations with Iran in an X post, suggesting that the emerging peace deal grants Iran "more privileges" than before the war.

"The gaslighting is actually impressive," Kizinger continued, quipping that Operation Epic Fury turned out to be "Operation Epic Surrender". He also questioned the need for a negotiation over Iran's nuclear program if President Donald Trump is claiming victory in the war.

Kizinger lamented that Americans were stuck with a loss, whose consequences will be borne by future generations. Little is known about the specifics of the peace deal, which Trump said has been largely finalised with Iran, to end the war that began almost 12 weeks ago.

The critique suggests that foreign policy hawks, including those from within GOP ranks, are not convinced by the White House's triumphant claims in the ongoing conflict with Iran, arguing that the proposed deal expands Tehran's leverage more than it had before the start of the joint U.S.-Israeli military offensive.

Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) wrote that he was "deeply concerned" about the deal, contending that the decision to strike Iran achieved "extraordinary military results", and advising the president to "hold the line and enforce the red lines".

"If the result of all that is to be an Iranian regime—still run by Islamists who chant 'death to America'—now receiving billions of dollars, being able to enrich uranium & develop nuclear weapons, and having effective control over the Strait of Hormuz, then that outcome would be a disastrous mistake," Cruz said.

Some of the details circulating in the press include a 60-day ceasefire extension, sanctions relief, and the unlocking of nearly $20 billion of frozen assets in return for Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz and agreeing to discuss its nuclear program. No official announcement has been made on the finalised details yet.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said a deal that is "perceived" to facilitate Iran's survival and acknowledge its control over the strait in the future will put "Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Shia militias in Iraq on steroids".

Meanwhile, Trump, in what appears to be a response to mounting criticism, said that he will only make a "good and proper" deal with Iran. "...but nobody has seen it, or knows what it is. It isn’t even fully negotiated yet. So don’t listen to the losers, who are critical about something they know nothing about. I don’t make bad deals!" he proclaimed.