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[Video below.] Late-night television host Bill Maher blasted President Donald Trump’s newly signed agreement with Iran on Friday, arguing that the administration gave away too much while receiving little in return as the United States enters a critical 60-day negotiation period with Tehran.

During his opening monologue, Maher mocked Trump’s reputation as a master negotiator and questioned the value of the recently signed 14-point memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran.

“Where is the big deal maker? What happened to the art of the deal?” Maher asked during his opening monologue on Friday evening, referencing the title of Trump’s 1987 book.

The memorandum launched a two-month diplomatic window designed to produce a broader agreement between the two countries. Among its provisions are measures intended to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes.

The agreement also includes a framework for lifting American sanctions on Iran and establishing a massive $300 billion reconstruction fund for the country, provisions that have already generated criticism from a number of Republican lawmakers.

Maher argued that the United States emerged from the agreement with little to show for its concessions.

“We didn’t get anything. I just hope we play Iran in the World Cup so we can beat them at something,” Maher said.

The administration quickly pushed back against criticism surrounding the reconstruction fund.

Appearing Saturday morning on Fox News, Vice President JD Vance insisted that American taxpayers would not finance the project and emphasized that any release of funds remains dependent on Iran meeting its obligations under the agreement.

According to Vance, a U.S. negotiating team led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner is currently in Switzerland conducting technical discussions aimed at implementing the accord.

The vice president expressed confidence that the ceasefire framework underpinning the agreement would remain intact despite ongoing regional tensions.

“There’s a fork in the road here,” Vance said, referring to the upcoming negotiations. “The United States wins either way, but I think that what ultimately happens from here is very much up to the Iranians.

“Do they want to behave better? If so, great,” he continued. “If they don’t want to behave better, the president of the United States still has a whole lot of options from here.”

Even as negotiations continue, the agreement faced an immediate challenge when Iranian military officials announced Saturday morning that the Strait of Hormuz would be closed.

Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said the move was a response to Israeli military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, raising fresh concerns about the durability of the accord.

American military officials appeared to dispute Iran’s position and signaled that the United States still considers the agreement fully operational.

“U.S. forces remain present and vigilant to ensure all aspects of the agreement with Iran are adhered to, obeyed, and in full force and effect,” the military command said.

The conflicting messages highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the new agreement, as supporters argue it offers a pathway to long-term stability while critics contend it grants significant concessions to Tehran before securing meaningful guarantees in return.

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{Matzav.com}

A growing rift between President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni intensified over the weekend as Trump renewed his claim that the Italian leader repeatedly sought a photo opportunity with him during the recent G7 summit, further escalating a dispute that has strained what was once considered a strong political relationship.

The clash comes after the two leaders found themselves at odds over the conflict involving Iran. Both attended the Group of Seven summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, where world leaders met to discuss international security challenges, ongoing conflicts, and coordinated global initiatives.

In a Truth Social post on Shabbos, Trump repeated allegations he had made earlier in the week regarding his interactions with Meloni during the summit.

“Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni asked, over and over, for a picture with me during the G-7 meeting in France,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Shabbos, repeating his previous accusation about the Italian leader.

Trump also suggested that Meloni’s political standing at home has suffered because she refused to support his administration’s requests that European allies assist American military operations against Iran.

The president claimed the Italian leader was “doing poorly” in domestic polling “because she turned down” his administration’s calls for European allies to aid its military efforts against Iran.

Meloni has been among the European leaders expressing concern over aspects of the conflict, including reports involving an attack on an Iranian school. She also publicly defended criticism of the war voiced by the Vatican.

Trump argued that circumstances had changed after recent military developments involving Iran and suggested that Meloni was now seeking to repair relations with Washington.

“Now, after the United States defeated Iran militarily, she wants to be friends again in order to get her ‘numbers up.’ No thanks!!!” Trump wrote in the post.

Meloni responded forcefully on Friday, rejecting Trump’s account of events and accusing him of misrepresenting what occurred during the summit.

On social media, she described the president’s version of events as “completely fabricated” and said she was shocked by the accusations.

“I do not know why the president of the United States behaves this way toward his allies — it is certainly not the first time this has happened,” Meloni said.

The Italian prime minister went on to criticize what she sees as a disparity between Trump’s treatment of allies and his approach toward America’s adversaries.

“I can only say it is regrettable that he does not show the same determination against the enemies of the West and the United States — against leaderships with whom he actually proves to be much more accommodating,” she continued.

The dispute has already begun producing diplomatic consequences.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced Friday that he was canceling a planned trip to the United States scheduled for next week in protest over the controversy.

In a social media statement, Tajani said the president’s “serious and offensive words” about the Italian leader “offend all of Italy.”

{Matzav.com}