US strikes Iran as Trump faces backlash over ‘disastrous’ peace deal plan - The Latest

Summary

Today in Focus: "US strikes Iran as Trump faces backlash over ‘disastrous’ peace deal plan – The Latest"

Date: May 26, 2026
Host: Lucy Hoff
Guest: Patrick Wintour (The Guardian’s Diplomatic Editor)
Duration of Main Content: Approx. 00:47 - 10:13

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Episode Overview

This episode of "The Latest" (Today in Focus) zooms in on the rapidly shifting Iran-US conflict, focusing on new US airstrikes against Iran amidst ongoing peace negotiations and growing political backlash facing President Trump at home. Diplomatic editor Patrick Wintour provides insider analysis on the status of peace talks, the domestic challenges for Trump, the reactions inside Iran, and the broader international stakes, particularly the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and its global economic impact.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. State of US-Iran Negotiations

• Near to Agreement:
  • “I think we are probably within 24 hours of an agreement. Trump might just at the last minute balk because there's so much political backlash to what he's agreed to do.” (Patrick Wintour, 00:47 & 09:22)
• Mixed Messages:
  • While the White House suggested that a deal was imminent, US airstrikes in southern Iran created confusion about America’s intentions. Talks, however, are continuing in Doha.
  • US Narrative: Pentagon describes latest strikes as “defensive,” targeting Iranian missile sites and efforts to mine the Strait of Hormuz.
    (Patrick Wintour, 01:45)
  • Iran’s Response: “Relatively muted” and still focused on getting a deal, not escalation. (Patrick Wintour, 01:45)

2. Domestic US Backlash & Trump’s Predicament

• Republican Criticism:
  • “Lindsey Graham, who's probably one of his closest allies, extremely critical. Ted Cruz … also saying that this was a disaster … very bumpy reception.” (Patrick Wintour, 03:38)
  • Critics argue Trump’s deal is “substantially weaker” than previous arrangements, notably the 2015 Obama/Iran deal, and that Trump has failed his original, maximalist war aims. (Lucy Hoff, 03:14)
• Unfulfilled Objectives:
  • The initial aims were “about eliminating the imminent threat from Iran, but also Trump was calling for regime change. … If anything, it feels like Iran has been emboldened … it can withstand US-Israeli military action.” (Lucy Hoff, 04:21)
  • Trump’s claims of “victory” are contrasted with the lack of substantial gains, especially regarding nuclear containment and regime change.

3. Iran’s Position and Internal Dynamics

• Shift in Power:
  • “If anything, the regime has changed, but it's changed into a much more security-orientated, less clerical, less centrist regime than before. … The big deterrent that's always been hanging over them, which is an attack by America, has happened and they've survived it.” (Patrick Wintour, 04:56)
• Internal Pressures:
  • Some within Iran are demanding “straightforward reparations” and full Iranian control of the Strait of Hormuz. (Patrick Wintour, 08:36)
• Financial Stakes:
  • Main Iranian demand: unfreeze ~ $24 billion in assets “right at the start of the process, not … conditional on something else.” (Patrick Wintour, 02:43; 06:40)
  • Loss context: “Iran's probably foregone as much as $250 billion through this war. … It's a drop in the ocean.” (Patrick Wintour, 08:36)

4. Main Sticking Points in Negotiations

(Patrick Wintour, 06:40)

• Frozen Assets (~$24 billion): Iran wants immediate release; U.S. hesitating.
• Ceasefire in Lebanon: Iran insists Hezbollah must be included; Israel objects, wants to continue strikes.
• Future Management of the Strait of Hormuz:
  • Iran hints at “fees for navigational services.” Is this a de facto toll? Unclear distinctions remain.
• Nuclear File:
  • U.S. wants uranium stockpile exported or destroyed.
  • Iran prefers “down-blending” enriched uranium to civilian-use levels (3.67%).
  • Trump has already retreated from insisting the uranium must leave the country.

5. International and Economic Stakes

• Strait of Hormuz Closed:
  • “Sending shockwaves through the global economy and will continue to do so.” (Lucy Hoff, 09:08)
• Broader Framework:
  • Progress is slow and complex. The likely shape of a deal:
    • Reopen the Strait of Hormuz
    • Lift the US blockade on Iranian ports
    • Defer major nuclear issues for later
  • “The agreement is very much one framed by Iran.” (Patrick Wintour, 09:22)

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Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• “There will be an unconditional surrender by Iran. This is not an unconditional surrender. And as ever, predicting the next steps of Donald Trump is a mug scheme.”
  — Patrick Wintour, (00:47 & 09:22)

• “We are very far from [regime change] at this point. If anything, it feels like Iran has been emboldened, given that it's realized it's got this leverage of the Strait of Hormuz and also that it can withstand US-Israeli military action.”
  — Lucy Hoff, (04:21)

• “The key point they're making is they feel that the whole nuclear file has been deferred to later and that the, the sole focus is trying to get the strait of Hormuz reopened... So everyone's saying, well, what was the point of all that?”
  — Patrick Wintour, (03:38)

• “There are people inside Iran sending letters to the speaker demanding that they don't concede anything at this stage. There must be straightforward reparations and the Straits of Hormuz must remain under full Iranian control.”
  — Patrick Wintour, (08:36)

• “I completely understand that if you're watching it from outside, which in a way I am as well. But the reality is that there is progress...”
  — Patrick Wintour, (09:22)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:47-01:45] — Opening assessment: Peace deal close, US airstrikes, Iran’s muted response
• [01:45-02:43] — Why the US says strikes are “defensive” and what Iran is accused of in Strait of Hormuz
• [02:43-03:14] — Battle over frozen Iranian assets; talks location (Doha); Iran’s priority for upfront payment
• [03:14-04:21] — Trump's domestic backlash, failures to meet war aims, comparison to Obama’s Iran policy
• [04:21-06:07] — Iran’s reaction: emboldened not cowed; shift in regime (more hardline); nuclear issue remains open
• [06:07-08:36] — Sticking points: frozen assets, Lebanese ceasefire/Hezbollah, strait navigation fees, nuclear enrichment
• [08:36-09:22] — Context: scale of lost Iranian revenue, internal opposition, global economic impact of closure
• [09:22-10:13] — Final assessment: possible movement forward, Iran shaping terms, unpredictability of Trump

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Overall Tone & Takeaways

• The episode is characterized by urgency, skepticism, and the unsettling feeling that, while progress is possible, none of the core issues (nuclear, regional militancy, regime change) are actually being resolved—instead, they’re being deferred.
• Patrick Wintour’s tone is measured, realistic, and moderately pessimistic about the sustainability of any deal, especially under the pressure cooker of US domestic politics and Iran’s increased confidence.
• Lucy Hoff’s framing underscores the precariousness of the situation, the sense of stalemate, and the global stakes—especially the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

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This summary provides a complete guide to the episode's core content, with direct quotes, key themes, and clear breakdowns for listeners or readers seeking a quick but thorough understanding.

Transcript

[Narrator]

This is the Guardian.

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[Patrick Wintour]

I think we are probably within 24 hours of an agreement. Trump might just at the last minute balk because there's so much political backlash to what he's agreed to do. There were words, you know, that there will be an unconditional surrender by Iran. This is not an unconditional surrender. And as ever, predicting the next steps of Donald Trump is a mug scheme.

[Lucy Hoff]

Donald Trump is facing a backlash at home over his proposed Iran peace deal. But as the US Carries out fresh airstrikes, could an agreement still be within reach from the Guardians today? In focus this is the latest. With me, Lucy Hoff. Well, joining me is Patrick Wintour, our diplomatic editor. Patrick, over the weekend we were hearing positive noises from the White House about the shape of a deal forming, that the steps were being taken that were close, that we were within reach. But now there are fresh strikes by the US on southern Iran. What's going on and what can we read into these mixed messages?

[Patrick Wintour]

Well, what the American Central Command has said is these were defensive strikes, which I guess are trying to mollify the Iranians about what they've done. But they've claimed, particularly down in the south near the strait, Bandar Abbas, they have str what they said was an attempt to set up missile launchers and that also there was some evidence that the Iranians were trying to lay further mines in the Strait of Hormuz. And at the moment, the Iranian reaction is, by their standards, relatively muted. And I think they're going to try and still focus on getting this deal rather than going into a kind of mode of saying the ceasefire is over and we're back to fighting.

[Lucy Hoff]

Yeah. Because there has been an insistence from the United States that talks are still ongoing. So even with this sort of what it sounds like, unilateral action, the talks are still taking place.

[Patrick Wintour]

Yeah, it's a bit of a caravanza. But at the moment, I think the talks are going on in Doha because one of the big issues has been around the issue of Iran's frozen assets and whether they can be unfrozen by the Americans and whether Qatar would be where I think some of the big money is, could be released. And from the Iranian point of view, it's really important that that money is released right at the start of the process, not sort of, that it's conditional on something else. They want it right up front.

[Lucy Hoff]

And meanwhile, Trump domestically is facing a lot of criticism, even from sort of former allies, real Republican hawks. They are sort of criticizing Trump for having failed to achieve his war aims, that we're entering into a process where the deal that might emerge from this would be substantially weaker prior to the conflict. Interesting that we're hearing that quite open criticism from people within Trump's own party.

[Patrick Wintour]

Yeah, I think it was really kind of messy landing for the proposals over Saturday and Sunday. And you have Lindsey Graham, who's probably one of his closest allies, extremely critical. Ted Cruz, the senator from Texas, also saying that this was a disaster and you know, key people on the Armed Services Committee as well, very critical. So it was a really bumpy reception. And I think the key point they're making is they feel that the whole nuclear file has been deferred to later and that the, the sole focus is trying to get the straight of four moves reopened, which had obviously been previously open before the war started. So everyone's saying, well, what was the point of all that?

[Lucy Hoff]

Yeah, and we're hearing this sort of bombastic language from Trump claiming this as a victory. But if you listen back to his speech delivered on 28 February, the first day of this conflict, when Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's former supreme leader, was killed in US Israeli airstrike. The aim was about eliminating the imminent threat from Iran, but also Trump was calling for regime change. We are very far from that at this point. If anything, it feels like Iran has been emboldened, given that it's realized it's got this leverage of the Strait of Hormuz and also that it can withstand U S. Israeli military action.

[Patrick Wintour]

Yeah, I think they, they do feel emboldened. I mean, if anything, the regime has changed, but it's changed into a much more security orientated, less clerical, less centrist regime than before. And I think they feel that they've managed to ride out a storm, that the big deterrent that's always been hanging over them, which is an attack by America, has happened and they've survived it. So it's a kind of transformatory moment for Iran in terms of the leadership. But Trump, I think, is going to have a real job trying to sell what he's managed to negotiate so far because there's going to be awful connotations of the Barack Obama deal, whereby loads of money was given to the Iranians, and Trump was incredibly critical of that. And I don't think he's made any progress on the nuclear issues, which was the Kasus Bella, if you remember, we were told it was a very imminent threat of a nuclear strike by Iran. And even though no intelligence assessments coming out of America was endorsing that, and there were words to the effect that this will be, in fact, not to the effect, to exact words, was that there will be an unconditional surrender by Iran. This is not an unconditional surrender, no.

[Lucy Hoff]

And indeed, there's been criticism from people within Trump's own party that this would be substantially worse than that Obama deal agreed in 2015, and that we were better off where we were around the Geneva talks prior to this conflict. But, Patrick, what are some of the other sticking points in the talks? Because we've also had a fresh wave of strikes from Israel in southern Lebanon, saying they want to crush Hezbollah. Iran is saying that Hezbollah must be included in any ceasefire deal that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz. That feels like another complicated issue to work through.

[Patrick Wintour]

Yeah, I think, if broadly, I think there's four sort of sticking points that were being negotiated over the last few days. One was the one about the frozen assets, which were already discussed. And then you're right, the issue of whether there was going to be a full ceasefire in Lebanon. The Iranian phrase, it has to be a ceasefire on all fronts. And Israel's really kicking up very hard about that issue. And then there's a question of how the Straits of Hormuz are going to be managed in the future. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman on Monday was saying, we're not seeking to impose tolls, but we are thinking of that there could be fees for navigational services. And the issue there is, are those navigational services something that you can apply for, or whether they'll be compulsory? That is, it will be atoll. And we're just. It's a distinction without a difference. We're playing on words. So that is also going to be very difficult. And then lastly, the Americans are trying to get into the agreements something on the nuclear issue to the effect that there will be the dispatch of the stockpile of highly enriched uranium. And Trump, up until yesterday, was saying it had to be exported to America, but he then switched and said he could tolerate the uranium being destroyed inside Iran. And I think what Iran is after is that it's what's called down blended, which is technical term for just basically you dilute it. So it's got the enrichment goes down to 3.67%, which is regarded as kind of what you would need for a kind of civil nuclear program. So those are the sticking points. But as of the latest, latest reports, it was the, the money issue, that is, it was holding things up and it's as much as $24 billion.

[Lucy Hoff]

Right.

[Patrick Wintour]

And now obviously that sounds a lot, and you, the IRGC would be buying some new gleaming weapons with that. But you've got to also bear in mind that Iran's probably foregone as much as 250 billion through this war. So it's, you know, it's a drop in the ocean and there are people inside Iran sending letters to the speaker demanding that they don't concede anything at this stage. There must be straightforward reparations and the Straits of Hormuz must remain under full Iranian control.

[Lucy Hoff]

And meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, which is sending shockwaves through the global economy and will continue to do so. It feels, Patrick, like we're just stuck in some kind of stalemate given the multifaceted, complex talks that you're describing.

[Patrick Wintour]

Well, I completely understand that if you're watching it from outside, which in a way I am as well. But the reality is that there is progress and I think there is a kind of movement towards an agreement. And the agreement is very much one framed by Iran that we're going to get the Strait of Hormuz opened, we're going to get the US Blocking blockade of Iranian ports lifted, and then we will negotiate about the nuclear issues. And that is the kind of framework in which everything is being worked on. And bit by bit, the hiccups are being dealt with. And I think we are probably within 24 hours of an agreement, Trump might just at the last minute bulk because there's so much political backlash to what he's agreed to do. And as ever, I mean, predicting the next steps of Donald Trump is a mug scheme.

[Lucy Hoff]

It sure is. Well, Patrick, thank you so much for your time.

[Patrick Wintour]

Pleasure.

[Lucy Hoff]

That's it for today. My huge thanks again to Patrick Wintour, the Guardian's diplomatic editor. You can keep up with his reporting and his analysis [e-mail] and don't miss today's episode of our sister podcast, Science Weekly, which is exploring red light masks and whether their claims about their benefits stack up. Thanks for listening to this episode of the latest today in Focus. We're back in your feeds as usual tomorrow morning. The latest will be back tomorrow night. This episode was presented by me, Lucy Hoff. It was produced by Nada Smjunich. The senior producer was Ryan Ramgobin. The lead producer was Zoe Hitch.

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