Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley urged the Trump administration to maintain strict sanctions on Iran, arguing that Washington should starve the regime of money rather than ease up after a fragile ceasefire. Haley called for refusing to unfreeze Iranian assets and pressuring China and Russia to stop buying Iranian oil and supplying equipment to Tehran.

"Keep the sanctions on Iran. Don’t unfreeze their assets. Put the pressure on China and Russia to stop buying oil and supplying Iran with equipment," Haley wrote on X. She emphasized that the administration had done the bulk of the work and that reversing progress would be a waste, adding that Gulf states should support the pressure to stop Iran from accessing funds.

The post criticized the Trump administration’s recent memorandum of understanding with Iran, which ended hostilities, reopened the Strait of Hormuz toll-free, and opened the door to sanctions relief talks. Haley’s comments came in response to conservative radio host Mark Davis, who argued that while skepticism about Iran honoring deals was logical, critics needed to name realistic alternatives to military action.

The United States and Iran agreed to halt retaliatory strikes and resume technical talks in Doha, Qatar. The talks aim to salvage a fragile 14-point interim peace memorandum signed on June 17 after a three-day burst of attacks across the Middle East. The latest conflict reignited after Tehran attacked a container ship, prompting U.S. strikes on Iranian surveillance infrastructure, communications systems, air defenses, drone storage sites, and minelayer capabilities.

Haley has consistently criticized U.S. outreach to Tehran, pointing to a surge in hangings of dissidents as evidence of the regime’s anti-American posture. Earlier this month, she backed U.S. strikes on Iran, stating that Iran would always play games, and called for increased pressure on Russia and China over their support for Tehran.

Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) have criticized the agreement between the U.S. and Iran, arguing it provides Tehran with significant financial benefits without securing concessions in return. The criticism follows an attack on a cargo vessel off the coast of Oman and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Washington and Tehran. Blumenthal stated that Iran is "sending the world a message" that it controls the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil supply, and warned that the U.S. has lost its leverage by unfreezing assets and lifting sanctions.

The agreement includes a temporary 60-day general license issued by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for the production and export of Iranian oil. Schiff described the deal as a capitulation that weakens national security, noting that Iran gains access to $300 billion in reconstruction funds and the release of frozen assets. The administration has requested billions in additional funding for the ongoing conflict, a move that has drawn criticism from within GOP ranks.

Incident in the Strait of Hormuz

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center (UKMTO) reported an incident 8.6 miles off the coast of Dahit, Oman, where a cargo vessel was hit on the starboard side by an unknown projectile. The attack caused damage to the bridge but resulted in no casualties or environmental impact. The Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have warned ships to navigate only through designated routes, stating that navigation outside these corridors is dangerous and prohibited.

Legislative Action

Separately, the Senate passed the Iran War Powers resolution by a vote of 50-48, directing the withdrawal of armed forces from the Iran war. The resolution received cross-voting support from Republican lawmakers, including Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), who voted "present" to avoid harming negotiations. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) stated that Congress acted to demand an end to the conflict. Iran has denied any new agreements with the U.S. regarding the return of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors.