American media outlets have united in criticism of Donald Trump’s agreement with Iran, calling it a one-sided deal that abandons pre-war objectives whilst bolstering Tehran’s power and costing tens of billions of dollars.

The US president signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday at a candlelit dinner outside Paris, attempting to end the war that has engulfed the Middle East and destabilised the global economy.

Trump’s return to the United States on Thursday brought a barrage of criticism from both opponents and supporters of the conflict.

Even Fox News, typically favourable to Trump, cited critics who said the agreement gave Iran “huge financial benefits” without requiring the dismantlement of its nuclear programme.

The deal serves as a temporary arrangement to allow time for detailed negotiations on long-term control over Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Washington has long suspected Tehran of harbouring a secret bomb-making programme.

Once a final agreement is reached on the Islamic republic’s nuclear programme, the United States will facilitate the release of a $300 billion reconstruction fund supported by regional nations.

“Despite the administration portraying the agreement as a breakthrough, critics have argued that the concessions offered to Iran far outweigh the commitments secured in return,” Fox said.

Left-leaning US network MS NOW was more direct: “The White House agreed to this ceasefire extension that met none of its prewar objectives whilst providing enormous financial concessions to Tehran.”

“Now, the administration is desperately trying to argue otherwise. Quite simply, Trump got played by the Iranians, and no one is buying his spin job.”

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‘Nothing like a surrender’

The Wall Street Journal described the agreement as “widely seen as the biggest foreign-policy bet of the president’s second term”, noting Trump “will face resistance from Iran policy hawks who say the president is giving up far more than he is getting.”

The newspaper reported that Trump signed the agreement for a second time on Wednesday night, surprising some aides and derailing plans for a signing ceremony later this week.

The New York Times said Iran could emerge from the conflict with “much to celebrate”, noting the agreement “read nothing like a surrender document.”

The Islamic republic “proved they can use economic chaos as a weapon,” the Times said.

At the start of the conflict, which began with US-Israeli strikes on Tehran on 28 February, Trump spoke of the possibility that the Iranian regime could collapse.

ALSO READ: Trump and Iran’s president sign deal to end Middle East war

“If anything, Mr Trump has propped up the new leadership,” the newspaper said.

Tehran could now be closer than ever to pursuing a nuclear weapon.

“For more than two decades Iran walked right up to the edge of building a nuclear bomb, but never stepped over the line,” the Times said.

“When Iran’s leaders begin to clear the rubble left by 40 days of bombing, and think about how to spend the billions in oil revenue that will soon resume, they may well question whether they had the right nuclear strategy.”

National Public Radio (NPR), whose funding Trump tried to cut before a judge blocked his order, highlighted the human toll of the war, which “pitted the world’s most powerful military against a far weaker, yet strategically adept, adversary.”

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