'On A Knife Edge': BBC Reporter Says Trump's Iran Peace Deal Could Collapse 'At The Very Last Moment'

A BBC reporter has said Donald Trump’s deal to end the Iran war could still be scuppered “at the very last moment”.

Thomas Morgan, the corporation’s correspondent in Washington, said the truce was “on a knife edge” and did not guarantee a long-term ceasefire.

He also pointed out that even the US president’s own supporters in America are asking “has it been worth it” nearly four months after the conflict began.

Trump signed a memorandum of understanding to end the war while attending the G7 summit in France on Wednesday.

He said: “I didn’t want to see economic catastrophe. If you kept this going, that could have happened.”

The agreement sees the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz waterway to all international vessels, while Iran could gain access to a $300 billion reconstruction fund if it keeps to its side of the bargain.

But the future of Tehran’s nuclear capability is still to be negotiated over a 60-day period.

On Radio 4′s Today programme, Thomas Morgan said Trump has “been criticised by politicians on both sides of the political spectrum here in the US” over Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the huge reconstruction fund.

He said: “The text is incredibly opaque and vague on who is going to contribute to that. Donald Trump has consistently been saying the US won’t pay a cent towards it, but that’s not how the text reads.

“And when it comes to the Strait of Hormuz ... it has reopened now and it’s toll and charge-free for now, but Iranian officials have been reported to say that as soon as this 60-day negotiating period ends, they will want to put a charge on vessels using the Strait.

“That is the reason Donald Trump is being criticised here by both Democrats and Republicans, even close allies of his. Even Senator Ted Cruz in Texas is saying this deal has not been a good deal, and I think the questions will be has this conflict and this truth deal, has it been worth it?”

Morgan warned that it would not take much for the deal to collapse and for the fighting to resume.

He said: “It does feel as though everything around this peace deal is on a knife edge, it’s paper thin, and it could be the smallest thing that could set things off.

“He’s had trouble with trying to keep President Benjamin Netanyahu in check. He seems to be wanting to call the shots as to the conflict between Israel and South Lebanon. That could easily scupper things.

“And after the 60 days, who’s to say they’ll be able to sort everything out.

“As with everything with Donald Trump on the international stage, things could change at the very last moment.”

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