US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff on Monday held their first congressional briefing since the US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) earlier this month.
According to a Politico report citing two people familiar with the matter, Witkoff and Rubio repeatedly assured lawmakers that the administration’s goal is to negotiate a final deal that would prohibit Iran from keeping its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, said the report. The signing of the MoU, according to the officials, outlined a 60-day period during which talks aimed at reaching a final deal will be held.
Talks to continue Tuesday, say officials
Witkoff told lawmakers that the technical team involved in those negotiations was set to attend talks with Washington and Tehran in Qatar on Tuesday, said Politico.
According to the report, Democrats pushed the officials for more details regarding the financial benefits that Iran could reap under the memorandum, including proceeds from oil sales that had been previously sanctioned.
US Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) went back and forth with Rubio and Witkoff on the matter before the conversation was cut off and the call ended, Politico reported, citing two others present at the briefing. The call, however, was cut off due to technical difficulties, not the questions, said an administration official.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer claimed, following a separate classified briefing in the Capitol, that Rubio and Witkoff had confirmed that Iran would reap “billions in oil revenue while retaining dangerous leverage over the Strait of Hormuz,” added the report.
‘Delayed, deficient, and devoid of details’
Schumer called out the officials for being “delayed, deficient, and devoid of details” in their briefings. “If this is the administration’s defense behind closed doors, Secretary Rubio should make it under oath, in public, before the Foreign Relations Committee,” he said.
US Representative Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.) also raised concerns about Witkoff’s business interests in the Middle East, a Politico reporter revealed in a post on X/Twitter.
Issa responded to the post, calling her out for “fake news.”
“Not even close to accurate,” he said. “Secretary Rubio and Steve Witkoff were thoughtful, responsive, and transparent. They answered all questions.”
US Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.) also commented on the productivity of the conversation, noting, however, that much of what he heard was similar to what was said last week during a dinner at US Vice President JD Vance’s residence, according to Politico’s report.
The officials sought to assure those on the call that the US had no intention of using American money as part of the deal, the report added.
A NewsNation report clarified that no American money will be used as part of the deal. “Foreign countries and investors will be allowed to invest,” it clarified, adding that sanctions relief will not be granted until the final agreement is reached. “Until negotiations are done, whether 60 days or 6 months, there's no relief coming,” it stated.
US not to renew strikes on Iran
NewsNation’s report added that an agreement was made not to strike Iran, even if Tehran fires weapons. She clarified that the US had recently successfully eliminated positions where Iran had moved munitions to threaten the Strait of Hormuz.
Rubio and Witkoff attempted to ease concerns about the reopening of the strait, according to Politico’s report.
Witkoff spoke of an Iranian breach of the ceasefire deal when it launched a drone attack on a ship passing through the waterway over the weekend. Both officials clarified that the removal of mines planted by Tehran throughout the strait was necessary.