May 24, 2026 / 11:51 AM EDT
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The following is the transcript of the interview with Reps. Josh Gottheimer, Democrat of Maine, and Mike Lawler, Republican of New York, that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on May 24, 2026.NANCY CORDES: We go now to a bipartisan pair of representatives. Josh Gottheimer is a Democrat from New Jersey, and Mike Lawler is a Republican from New York. Congressmen, welcome. Thank you for joining us. REP. MIKE LAWLER: Thanks for having us.REP. JOSH GOTTHEIMER: Thanks for having us. NANCY CORDES: Sure. Congressman Lawler, I want to start with you and get your take on this memorandum of understanding that appears to be taking shape between the US and Iran. We've already seen some blow back from some of your fellow Republicans. South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham said, if the reports on the deal are accurate, "it makes one wonder why the war started to begin with." Congressman, do you share his view?REP. LAWLER: No, and I think it's important that we actually get all of the details, number one. Number two, if you look at what took place during the kinetic activity, what did they do? They focused on the ballistic missiles program, the drone capabilities, the naval fleet, and seizing control of Iran's airspace. They were able to do that. Iran retaliated with a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, and President Trump blockaded that, which caused great harm to Iran's economy, stopped the flow of oil to China, and so there's been immense pressure for everybody to reach a deal, but the bottom line is the objective is to ensure that Iran does not possess a nuclear weapon, and that is what President Trump has been clear and consistent on from the very beginning. And so, I think it is imperative, before everybody rushed to, you know, get to the microphone, that they actually understand the terms of the agreement that is being proposed, and specifically with respect to the enriched uranium.NANCY CORDES: So, you like what you're hearing?
