'(Trump) will f**k up’: Joe Walsh warns Iran war will end as badly as it began

Former Republican congressman-turned-Democrat Joe Walsh tore into President Donald Trump's handling of the war with Iran, calling him an "idiot," a "pathological liar," and a sociopath in one breath, after Trump held off on striking Iran and claimed both sides were close to a peace deal. "He f**ked up launching this war, and he'll f**k up how this war will end. The U.S. will walk away weaker, Iran will walk away stronger, and the world's economy will have taken a huge hit," Walsh wrote on X.

His comments come amid a purported peace deal circulating on social media, outlining sweeping concessions from Washington. Some terms include an immediate ceasefire on all fronts, a U.S. commitment to respect Iranian sovereignty and withdraw forces from surrounding areas, and the full lifting of the naval blockade within 30 days. The deal would also suspend oil sanctions, release $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets, and obligate the U.S. and its allies to present a $300 billion reconstruction plan for Iran.

The purported terms were swiftly rejected by officials on both sides. Vice President JD Vance dismissed the circulating draft as fake, clarifying that no funds were being released simply for signing a deal or attending talks, and that any economic benefits would only flow to Iran if it met its obligations. He maintained that the deal had the potential to remake the region and deliver lasting peace. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also urged restraint, saying all details would be shared transparently with the "public in due course".

Walsh, who joined the Democratic Party in 2025, is a staunch critic of the Trump administration and part of a growing chorus questioning the president's approach towards Iran. His scathing assessment highlighted the bad press Trump has courted over the course of the conflict. He has already claimed 39 times that a deal was imminent. Walsh laid the blame squarely at Trump's feet, urging the public not to be surprised by how it all ends eventually.

That end may arrive sooner rather than later, though it should be taken with a pinch of salt. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif posted that both sides are very close to a deal, with finalisation expected within 24 hours. "Pakistan is preparing for the electronic signing of the peace deal immediately after, followed by technical-level talks next week," he said. The South Asian nation is mediating the peace talks between two sides. Trump echoed Sharif, saying a deal would be signed on Sunday.

Neither elaborated on the specifics, but Trump was quick to contrast his deal with former President Barack Obama's deal with Iran, which he dismissed as an "easy, beautiful, smooth road to a nuclear weapon" that would have left Iran armed with a weapon six years ago. "My agreement with Iran is the exact opposite, A WALL TO NO NUCLEAR WEAPON! In fact, they no longer want a Nuclear Weapon, nor will they have one, either through purchase, development, or any other form of procurement," he wrote on Truth Social.

Trump added that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen following the deal and that no money would change hands. He also said that U.S. forces would eventually retrieve and destroy the remaining nuclear material buried beneath Iran's granite mountains. Iran is optimistic, confirming "the likelihood of finalizing the memorandum of understanding in the coming days is high," Associated Press reported.

Trump, however, had the final word, expressing confidence the process would resolve quickly and smoothly, while leaving a veiled nuclear threat. "If it doesn't, we have the ultimate alternative, hopefully never to be used again," he warned. There were unverified reports that Iran pushed back on Trump's Sunday timeline, with its negotiating team reportedly rejecting what it called a propaganda stunt engineered around his birthday, refusing to allow the signing to be turned into a ceremonial occasion for the president.