{"text":[[{"start":8.75,"text":"Donald Trump faced a backlash from fellow Republicans to his efforts to strike a deal with Iran at the weekend, as several lawmakers warned the president was willing to give away too much."}],[{"start":19.3,"text":"Foreign policy hawks including Republican senators Lindsey Graham and Ted Cruz spoke out after reports that US negotiators were closing on a deal that would grant concessions to Iran while extending the existing ceasefire, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and laying the groundwork for more talks on dismantling Iran’s nuclear programme. "}],[{"start":41.1,"text":"Efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict have intensified in the past week amid fears that Trump was poised to resume strikes on Iran. "}],[{"start":50.55,"text":"People briefed on the proposed deal said it would include a commitment to discuss Tehran either diluting or handing over its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. The US would agree, in phases, to sanctions relief and unfreezing Tehran’s assets held overseas, depending on the progress of talks towards a final deal."}],[{"start":69.75,"text":"But even before the details of an agreement were made public, several Republicans — including many of the president’s most ardent supporters — questioned Trump’s tactics. "}],[{"start":79.85,"text":"“If it is perceived in the region that a deal with Iran allows the regime to survive and become more powerful over time, we will have poured gasoline on the conflicts in Lebanon and Iraq,” Graham, a loyal ally and frequent golfing partner of the president, posted on social media."}],[{"start":96.64999999999999,"text":"“I personally am a sceptic of the idea that Iran cannot be denied the ability to terrorise the Strait and the region cannot protect itself against Iranian military capability.”"}],[{"start":108.55,"text":"Cruz, another foreign policy hardliner, said he was “deeply concerned” about reports of a deal, describing Trump’s choice to first launch strikes against Iran as the “most consequential decision of his second term”."}],[{"start":120.95,"text":"“If the result of all that is to be an Iranian regime — still run by Islamists who chant ‘death to America’ — now receiving billions of dollars, being able to enrich uranium and develop nuclear weapons, and having effective control over the Strait of Hormuz, then that outcome would be a disastrous mistake,” Cruz added."}],[{"start":140.05,"text":"Roger Wicker, the Republican chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a post on X on Saturday: The rumored 60-day ceasefire — with the belief that Iran will ever engage in good faith — would be a disaster. Everything accomplished by Operation Epic Fury would be for naught!”"}],[{"start":157.20000000000002,"text":"Mike Pompeo, who was Trump’s secretary of state during his first administration, called the plan “not remotely America First”."}],[{"start":165.00000000000003,"text":"“It’s straightforward: Open the damned strait. Deny Iran access to money. Take out enough Iranian capability so it cannot threaten our allies in the region. Overdue. Let’s go,” Pompeo said in a post to X."}],[{"start":178.80000000000004,"text":"The criticisms sparked outrage among many in the White House."}],[{"start":183.20000000000005,"text":"White House communications director Steven Cheung replied to Pompeo’s social media post with an expletive-ridden response, saying the former secretary of state “should shut his stupid mouth and leave the real work to the professionals”."}],[{"start":197.35000000000005,"text":"Trump campaign adviser Alex Bruesewitz accused Cruz of “trying to undermine the president and his administration”. Cruz responded by saying “young political grifters pushing Iran appeasement are not remotely helping the president”."}],[{"start":211.30000000000004,"text":"The exchanges laid bare the political challenges facing the president as he seeks to unite the Republican Party in a tough electoral environment. Republicans are looking to hold on to control of both chambers of Congress and defy polling that shows the president’s approval rating at record lows, as the public continues to sour on his handling of the war and the US economy."}],[{"start":232.05000000000004,"text":"Thom Tillis, the Republican senator from North Carolina who has emerged as one of the president’s sharpest critics from within his own party, also questioned the merits of a deal on Sunday, telling CNN that the reported framework did “not make sense”."}],[{"start":245.80000000000004,"text":"“We were told about 11 weeks ago by [defence secretary Pete] Hegseth and the Department of Defense that they had obliterated Iran’s defences and it was just a matter of time before we had the nuclear material,” Tillis said. “Now we’re talking about a posture where we may accept the nuclear material remaining in Iran? How does that make sense at all?”"}],[{"start":263.65000000000003,"text":"US secretary of state Marco Rubio rejected the criticism and insisted Trump had taken an unprecedented tough stance against Tehran."}],[{"start":272.70000000000005,"text":"“I don’t think anyone’s been tougher on the Iranian nuclear ambition than President Trump,” Rubio said at a press conference with his Indian counterpart in New Delhi. “There is no one who has been stronger on this issue than President Trump.”"}],[{"start":286.1,"text":"“The idea that somehow this president, given everything he has already proven he is willing to do, is going to somehow agree to a deal that ultimately winds up putting Iran in a stronger position when it comes to nuclear ambitions is absurd,” Rubio added."}],[{"start":306.95000000000005,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1779679605_6492.mp3"}