CIA Director John Ratcliffe has expressed significant doubts about Iran's willingness to meet U.S. demands in ongoing nuclear negotiations, according to sources familiar with internal discussions. Ratcliffe reportedly informed President Trump and senior officials that intelligence gathered by U.S. agencies indicates Iran's private deliberations diverge from its public commitments.
Internal Division Over Deal
The skepticism is not limited to Ratcliffe. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth have also voiced concerns about Iran's intentions, while Vice President Vance and U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have pushed for the deal. High-level meetings leading up to Sunday's announcement highlighted these disagreements, with intelligence suggesting Iranian officials were discussing the deal in ways inconsistent with their public statements.
"The intelligence reflects that the Iranian intentions are not in line with their commitments under the deal," a source said.
Next Steps in Negotiations
The memorandum of understanding signed on Sunday sets a 60-day window for further negotiations, with Vance, Witkoff, and Kushner scheduled to meet Iranian officials this Friday. The deal aims to extend the ceasefire and maintain Iran's nuclear status quo while negotiations proceed. However, skeptics argue Iran stands to gain more from the current arrangement unless a final agreement aligns with U.S. objectives.
The full text of the 14-point deal remains unpublished, but sources claim Iran will benefit disproportionately unless it agrees to stringent nuclear terms. The U.S. has pledged not to impose new sanctions or deploy additional forces during negotiations, with potential sanctions removal and military drawdowns contingent on a final deal.