Iran outmanoeuvred US President Donald Trump “like a violin” in negotiations, walking away with far better terms after sensing his desperation for a deal to end the war, former National Security Adviser John Bolton told Euronews.
Speaking to Euronews’ Special Report from the G7, Bolton — who advised Trump on delicate security matters during his first term — argued that the framework agreement favoured Iran and said the US President had prioritised economic concerns over strategic considerations.
“They’ve played him like a violin,” Bolton said. “That’s why they’ve got the deal that they want.”
Bolton told Euronews Trump’s main concern was energy prices rather than the geopolitical implications of the agreement.
“Trump isn’t thinking about the geo-strategic implications of the deal. He’s thinking of one thing. He wants the strait open. He wants Gulf oil on international markets. He wants the price of gasoline at the pump down. That’s all he cares about,” he said.
Asked whether that amounted to trading US national security for lower fuel prices, Bolton replied: “I think that’s basically what it comes down to.”
Bolton said the absence of a published text for the framework agreement raised concerns, arguing that the details of any deal matter more than its headline provisions. Key questions remain over Iran’s uranium enrichment programme, the extent of sanctions relief and the practical reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, he said.
“If it were a great deal, it would be out in public. And I think that tells you pretty much what you need to know,” he said.
He rejected the White House’s assertion that Iran’s leadership had fundamentally changed following US and Israeli strikes.
“The change of leadership is only because we’ve killed the top four or five hundred people in the existing regime and you’re down now to their seconds and deputies. So, yeah, it’s different people, but it’s the same fanatic regime,” Bolton said.
Bolton also dismissed Iranian assurances that it would not pursue nuclear weapons.
“Iran has been committed to not getting nuclear weapons for 56 years now since it joined the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1970. They just don’t mean it,” he said.
Bolton further argued that Trump had weakened Washington’s leverage by agreeing to a deal with a weakened Iran, signalling that the United States would not carry out further strikes before the midterm elections. Bolton said the approach reflected the president’s focus on keeping energy prices low ahead of November’s vote.
“That takes away the biggest weapon we have, the biggest leverage we have over Iran. That’s all they will understand,” Bolton said.
He added that Tehran had accurately assessed Trump’s position.
“He’s desperate for a deal. And they have manoeuvred him,” he said.
Asked about the prospect of a European naval force to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open, Bolton expressed scepticism.
“Is it going to be like a UN peacekeeping force that just waves as the ceasefire is violated? Nobody’s ever addressed that question,” he said.
Speaking at the G7 summit in Evian on Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron said European countries would play their part in securing freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, although Trump appeared to suggest that the US would not need “much help” following the agreement.
At the start of Operation Epic Fury, Trump criticised European allies for failing to contribute to what he described as the “small endeavour” of reopening the strait and voiced frustration with NATO’s lack of assistance.