Robert Malley, who led nuclear talks under Barack Obama, called the US-Iran peace deal a breakthrough. He said it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz after years of American blockade.
President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire on Sunday. He immediately ordered removal of US military forces from the waterway.
But Malley warned the agreement leaves major problems unresolved. The deal doesn't address what triggered the conflict in the first place, according to him.
"The MOU indicts the preceding war," Malley wrote on X. "Its only real achievement is reopening a waterway closed by that same war," he noted.
Harder negotiations lie ahead, the diplomat cautioned. Iran's nuclear program, enriched uranium stockpiles, and sanctions relief remain unfinished business.
"These issues will probably be tougher to settle now than before," Malley added in his post.
Sina Toossi from the Center for International Policy agreed with that assessment. He told reporters the outcome would shock supporters of the initial conflict.
"No regime change. No Iranian surrender," Toossi said on X.
"This is exactly what war hawks feared most," he wrote.
Falling oil prices offered Trump some relief on the economic front. Yet it's unclear if Americans will view the conflict differently.
Trump's approval ratings have hit historic lows due to war-related economic damage. The peace deal may not reverse that trend.
A critical 60-day deadline expires in August. Elections arrive in November, putting pressure on Trump's campaign.
Trump told The New York Times he'd restart military action if talks fail. He said he could turn the US into "the guardian of the Middle East."
In exchange, he wants 20 percent of regional oil revenues. Trump sees the arrangement as profitable protection for Arab states.
