Cotton’s Iran hawk stance tempered as Trump rewrites the deal

Sen. Tom Cotton—once the Senate’s most outspoken Iran deal critic—finds himself in a delicate position as Trump pursues a similar framework. As chair of the Intelligence Committee, he’s softened his public critique to preserve leverage on Iran while pushing to complete oversight on the surveillance program and the DNI nomination; his stance highlights the tight spot GOP hawks face, balancing a hawkish past with an administration pursuing a comparable agreement. He’s backed by some colleagues at the leadership level but faces pushback from allies who call for a tougher line, all while his reelection situation adds pressure to navigate the administration’s shifting Iran policy.