Cheap gas or defeat? Americans weigh new Tehran deal
Photo: US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
A majority of US citizens are skeptical about the new preliminary agreement between Washington and Tehran. People do not believe the diplomatic step will bring the country any real strategic benefit, according to Newsweek.
As is known, the agreement between the United States and Iran is intended to halt hostilities and open the way for safe maritime navigation. The parties have allocated 60 days for talks on the nuclear program and sanctions, but Americans are not in a rush to celebrate.
A YouGov poll shows concerning sentiment. According to the data, 52% of American adults believe that the situation in the United States will worsen or remain unchanged.
Many respondents suggest that Iran may benefit more from the agreement. American voters are taking a wait-and-see position and are not confident in the strength of these arrangements.
Fuel prices as an argument
The restoration of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has already affected the market, and global oil prices have fallen. As a result, gasoline prices in the US have started to decrease.
The Trump administration is trying to use this as an argument. If the trend continues, people will feel the benefit directly in their wallets.
Independent voters play a particularly important role. They will determine the outcome of the 2026 midterm elections in the United States. At present, only a quarter of them believe the deal will improve the situation.
How politicians in Washington are reacting to the deal
The reaction from lawmakers in the US capital has been mixed, the publication notes. Republican Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana initially strongly criticized the idea of the agreement, but later, after reviewing the memorandum of understanding, he shifted his rhetoric to a more moderate tone.
"I think we ought to give peace a chance," Kennedy said on the Senate floor.
He stressed that the document is temporary and everything depends on whether Tehran complies with the agreement. Any violation could return the conflict to an active phase within two months.
There are just over four months left until the elections. The agreement expires in mid-August. This is effectively the final stretch of the election race, the article notes.
Context of the event
As reported, talks between US and Iranian representatives on Tehran’s nuclear program may soon take place in Switzerland. The US side may be represented by President Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Meanwhile, Iran has announced it is again closing the Strait of Hormuz. US Vice President JD Vance denies that the strait has been closed.
