Mike Johnson

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on Sunday defended President Donald Trump's tentative agreement with Iran, brushing aside a sharp Republican backlash over a framework that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and extend a fragile ceasefire by 60 days, but leaves Tehran's nuclear program for later talks.

Iranian officials have publicly disputed pieces of the emerging deal, and conservative critics in the Senate warned the terms could entrench the Islamic Republic and shift the Gulf's balance of power.

Speaking from the sidelines of the Indianapolis 500 on "Fox & Friends Weekend," Johnson said he had spoken with Trump on Saturday night and described the president as "resolute as he's been from the beginning."

He pledged the administration would handle the nuclear question and reopen the strait, predicting the move would steady global markets and bring gas prices down at home. A drop in prices, he said, would help House Republicans grow their majority in the fall midterms.

The framework Trump unveiled Saturday in a social media post calls for a 60-day ceasefire extension, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and follow-on negotiations on Tehran's nuclear program.

Trump said he had spoken with leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, and Israel, and described the package as a "Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to PEACE" still subject to finalization.

Iranian officials pushed back, with a foreign ministry spokesman telling state media that nuclear issues are not part of the current talks.

Inside the GOP, the deal has split hawks from the president's defenders.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said he was deeply concerned about reports Iran could keep influence over the strait and continue enrichment, calling such an outcome a "disastrous mistake."

Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the Senate Armed Services Committee chairman, said a 60-day ceasefire "would be a disaster" and that the gains from Operation Epic Fury, Washington's name for the war, would be lost.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., warned the framework could shift the regional balance of power and become "a nightmare for Israel."

Cruz drew criticism from Alex Bruesewitz, an outside Trump adviser who helped run the 2024 campaign's podcast strategy.

"Cool, Ted. No one asked you, bro," Bruesewitz wrote, accusing Cruz of trying to undermine the president.

Cruz hit back minutes later: "Hush, child. The adults are talking. I'm not your 'bro.' And young political grifters pushing Iran appeasement are not remotely helping the President."

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also rejected the proposal as "Not remotely America First."

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung answered with a blunt social media post saying Pompeo had no idea what he was talking about and should "shut his stupid mouth," Fox News reported.

The immediate test is whether the framework holds long enough to be signed.