John Bolton, Donald Trump’s former national security advisor, said in an interview with Euronews that Iran manipulated negotiations over a deal with the United States to its advantage. Bolton stressed that Tehran recognized Trump’s desperation to end the war and secured significantly better terms as a result.
Speaking on the sidelines of the G7 summit, Bolton said the framework agreement benefits Iran. He criticized Trump for prioritizing economic issues over strategic interests. “They played him like a fiddle,” Bolton said, adding that Trump was primarily focused on lowering energy prices.
Bolton further stated that Trump does not consider the geopolitical consequences of the agreement. “He has only one thing on his mind: The strait must stay open. Oil from the Gulf must reach the global market. The price at the pump must come down,” Bolton said. When asked whether Trump was trading US national security for lower gas prices, he replied: “That’s essentially what it comes down to.”
Bolton also criticized that no text of the framework agreement has been published so far. The details of a deal are crucial, not just the big headlines. It remains unclear how much uranium Iran may enrich and which sanctions would be lifted. “If it were a great deal, it would have been on the table long ago. That says it all,” Bolton said.
Bolton also rejected the White House’s claim that Iran’s leadership had fundamentally changed after US and Israeli strikes. He sees the current situation as a missed opportunity for the United States to maintain its strategic influence.
Bolton’s remarks highlight the challenges facing US foreign policy, particularly regarding Iran and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Reactions to the deal and related questions will continue to shape the US political landscape.
EuroPulse reported on June 16, 2026, about Trump’s focus on the Ukraine war after the Iran crisis, [https://europulse.today/trump-usa-fokussieren-nach-iran-krise-wieder-auf-ukraine-kri/].
Source: de.euronews.com
