The chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee criticized the Iran memorandum of understanding Thursday, particularly the provision calling for the United States to facilitate a $300 billion reconstruction fund backed by regional nations.

"President Trump has pursued peace through strength. I hope the intermediaries working on this deal are not undermining that objective," Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said in a statement.

The deal, signed Wednesday, establishes a 60-day framework as negotiations continue toward a permanent agreement.

Wicker said the financial benefits available to Iran under the deal are far greater than those provided under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action reached during the Obama administration. President Donald Trump has been an outspoken critic of the JCPOA.

"Since day one, I have supported President Trump's efforts to end Iran's 47-year threat to the United States and our partners," Wicker said. "I am concerned that the memorandum of understanding negotiates away the victories of Operation Epic Fury in ways that are completely out of step with the President's goals.

"Specifically, the $300 billion fund for the reconstruction and economic development of Iran — though not funded by U.S. taxpayers — would make Iran's payoff under President Obama's 2015 deal look like a pittance by comparison. I believe it would be an error to force Israel to stand down against Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed terrorist organization that continues to attack Israel on its northern border.

"I also oppose the U.S. lifting any sanctions on Iran, or unfreezing Iranian funds, in exchange for Iran's mere agreement to negotiate for another 60 days. The Iranian regime has not renounced its ultimate goal — 'Death to America, Death to Israel.' The regime will invest every penny it receives to further that aim."

Although the JCPOA used U.S. sanctions waivers to give Iran access to billions of dollars in frozen assets held in foreign banks, the current deal uses sanctions waivers to facilitate new private and regional investment in Iran's infrastructure.

Wicker's comments came a day after radio host Mark Levin, one of Trump's most influential conservative allies, raised concerns about the deal.

Levin argued that the agreement as drafted contains major concessions that could undermine the military victory Trump achieved.

"To be clear, there was never a plan to use ground forces or be involved in a 'forever war,'" Levin wrote on X. "Indeed, in my view, if the MOU is not drastically altered during the 60-day negotiation period, a forever war — a continuation of Iran's war on the West — is not in doubt."