Conservative influencer Laura Loomer sharply criticized the temporary ceasefire agreement reached by the U.S. and Iran on Tuesday evening, railing against diplomatic negotiations as a "negative for our country."
The two-week pause on escalating strikes was announced just hours ahead of President Trump's original 8 p.m. EDT deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face punishing attacks on civilian infrastructure.
What the Right Is Saying
Loomer slammed the deal repeatedly in a flurry of social media posts, starting shortly after President Trump announced the two-week pause on escalating strikes in the Middle East. "We didn't really get anything out of it and the terrorists in Iran are celebrating," she wrote on social platform X. She predicted that the fragile ceasefire "will fail" and Trump would be "proven right" that the Iranian regime "needs to be wiped out." The influencer argued that Iran would be more legitimized and emboldened, warning that "the second Trump is gone, they will build a nuclear weapon and attack the US and Israel." She also expressed skepticism about whether the ceasefire would hold, stating "Negotiating with terrorists only makes them stronger."
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive critics have largely supported the ceasefire as a diplomatic victory that prevents further escalation in the Middle East. U.S. officials, including Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, cast the Pakistan-mediated deal as a "victory" for the country. Trump told Agence France-Presse on Wednesday that it was a "total and complete victory. 100 percent. No question about it." The White House has emphasized that the deal prevents Iranian uranium enrichment and opens pathways for securing the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world's oil supply is transported daily.
What the Numbers Show
The exact terms of the agreement remain unclear, including the fate of Iran's nuclear and missile program. Trump said early Wednesday that Iran would not enrich uranium and the U.S. would work with the country to "dig up and remove" buried materials — but there has been no confirmation from officials in the Islamic Republic. Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Iran said the deal would formalize its plan to charge a fee to ships transiting the vital shipping channel. Trump told ABC News the U.S. was considering a "joint venture" with Iran to set up a toll booth system. Attacks continued across the Persian Gulf region hours after the ceasefire announcement, with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain issuing alerts for potential threats. Israel carried out what it called its largest strikes against Iran-backed Hezbollah since the war began in late February.
The Bottom Line
The ceasefire represents a diplomatic gambit with uncertain outcomes. Loomer's criticism reflects a significant portion of conservative skepticism about negotiating with Iran, while the Trump administration has framed the deal as a win. The lack of clarity on key terms — particularly Iran's nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz arrangements — means both sides will likely point to subsequent developments to validate their positions. What happens in the coming two weeks, and whether the ceasefire holds or collapses, will determine whether this is remembered as a breakthrough or a miscalculation.