Former President Barack Obama has voiced doubts regarding the efficacy and distinctiveness of a new deal reached between the Trump administration and Iran, suggesting it may not represent a significant improvement over the 2015 agreement his administration brokered.

Obama shared his perspective in an interview with "Good Morning America" co-anchor Robin Roberts on Saturday, June 13, 2026, just prior to President Donald Trump's announcement of a deal aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending the U.S. naval blockade. The specifics of this new agreement remain largely undisclosed.

According to a senior administration official, the deal is expected to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, lead to the dismantling of Iran's nuclear program, and result in the U.S. acquiring Iran's highly enriched uranium. This development occurs eight years after the Trump administration withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 nuclear accord, which Trump had previously characterized as "the worst deal ever."

In the interview, conducted at the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Obama stated he was "doubtful" that any agreement proposed by the current administration would be "significantly different" from the 2015 deal. He elaborated that he questioned if any new accord would be a "significant improvement" on the agreement that was in place and functioning for a considerable period before the U.S. withdrew.

Obama also conveyed his hope for an end to the conflict in the region and emphasized the importance of diplomacy over military intervention. He expressed a desire for the cessation of hostilities and relief for ordinary citizens suffering from the war. He reflected that the situation serves as a reminder that relying on coercion or military force to solve complex foreign policy issues, while sometimes appearing appealing, is often less effective than pursuing diplomatic avenues.

He further commented on the persistent nature of such foreign policy lessons, suggesting that humanity sometimes needs to relearn them. "You'd think we would've learned that lesson by now," Obama remarked, adding, "But it seems like every so often we have to relearn that lesson again."

President Trump had initially announced major combat operations against Iran on February 28, 2026, following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military, government, and infrastructure sites within Iran.

More details from Robin Roberts' interview with former President Obama are scheduled to air on "Good Morning America" on Wednesday, June 17, from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on ABC.