Late-night host Bill Maher slammed President Trump over his administration\u2019s negotiations with Iran, just days after U.S. officials signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Middle East country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhere is the big deal maker? What happened to the art of the deal?\u201d Maher asked during his opening monologue on Friday evening, referencing the title of Trump\u2019s 1987 book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The signing of the 14-point MOU initiated a 60-day negotiation period and authorized the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil trading channel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The deal also included provisions to lift U.S. sanctions on Iran and assemble a $300 billion reconstruction fund for the country \u2014 a move that drew pushback from several GOP lawmakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe didn\u2019t get anything. I just hope we play Iran in the World Cup so we can beat them at something,\u201d Maher said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vice President Vance told Fox News\u2018s \u201cFox and Friends\u201d on Saturday morning that \u201cnot a single penny\u201d of U.S. money will be used for this construction fund and that the release of these funds is contingent on Iran\u2019s compliance with the MOU\u2019s terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A U.S. delegation including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump\u2019s son-in-law, Jared Kushner are in Switzerland this weekend for technical negotiations over this agreement, Vance confirmed. The vice president told the network that he is \u201cvery confident\u201d the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran will hold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a fork in the road here,\u201d Vance said, referring to the upcoming negotiations. \u201cThe United States wins either way, but I think that what ultimately happens from here is very much up to the Iranians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo they want to behave better? If so, great,\u201d he continued. \u201cIf they don\u2019t want to behave better, the president of the United States still has a whole lot of options from here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The announcement from Iran\u2019s military the same morning that it would close the Strait of Hormuz appeared to put the MOU\u2019s strength to the test. Khatam al-Anbiya Central \u200cHeadquarters said in a statement reported by state broadcaster IRIB that this decision was made in response to Israeli attacks on Iran-backed militia Hezbollah in Lebanon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
U.S. Central Command appeared to dispute Iran\u2019s move in a statement shared on social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cU.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,\u201d the military command said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n