Former President Barack Obama says he does not expect any deal made with Iran to be an “improvement” from the deal he negotiated, which was scrapped by President Donald Trump.
Obama made the comments in an interview with ABC News that was recorded before Trump announced on Sunday that a deal with Iran had been reached. Trump withdrew from Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran during his first term in May 2018, arguing that it would pave the way for Iran to build nuclear weapons.
“It is doubtful that any agreement that arises is going to be significantly different or a significant improvement from the deal that we had in the first place, and had worked for a long stretch of time before we, the United States, pulled out of it,” Obama said. “So I’m hopeful that bombing stops and ordinary people are no longer suffering as a consequence of the war.”
In an exclusive interview, former President Barack Obama spoke with ABC News’ Robin Roberts sharing his thoughts on the war in Iran. pic.twitter.com/IIMss9SxSg
— Good Morning America (@GMA) June 15, 2026
“In retrospect, it’s a reminder that on a lot of difficult foreign policy problems the notion that we can just bully our way or bomb our way to solutions may sometimes seem appealing,” Obama added. “You’d think we would have learned that lesson by now, but it seems like every so often we have to relearn that lesson again.”
In a post on Saturday, Trump attacked Obama’s deal, saying it “was an easy, beautiful, smooth road to a Nuclear Weapon.”
“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,” Trump said.
The exact terms of the deal are not yet known, but Trump said Sunday that it was “complete” and that it would involve the opening up of the Strait of Hormuz without tolls and the end of the U.S. naval blockade.
“This Great Deal will bring Peace and Security to the whole Region. Many presidents have tried to make Peace with Iran, and all have failed before me,” Trump said in a Truth Social post. “The Leaders of the Region have, for the first time, found a President who can help them achieve real Peace. With the opening of the Strait upon the signing of the Deal on Friday, for purposes of mine removal, oil will flow on both ends again for the Region, and the World!”
Vice President JD Vance plans to travel to Switzerland for the signing of the deal and Trump, who will be in Europe for the G7 summit, is considering attending as well.
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