Former CIA chief attacks proposed Iran agreement

Former CIA director and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo criticised the emerging agreement between the United States and Iran, arguing that it resembled the approach taken by officials involved in the Obama-era nuclear deal.

Pompeo said the reported agreement appeared to come from the “Wendy Sherman–Robert Malley–Ben Rhodes playbook”, referring to key figures associated with the original Iran nuclear accord that President Donald Trump later abandoned.

He argued that the deal was not consistent with an “America First” approach and claimed it would benefit Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.

The deal being floated with Iran seems straight out of the Wendy Sherman-Robert Malley-Ben Rhodes playbook: Pay the IRGC to build a WMD program and terrorize the world.

Not remotely America First. It’s straightforward: Open the damned strait. Deny Iran access to money. Take out…

— Mike Pompeo (@mikepompeo) May 23, 2026