Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff faced pointed questions from both parties Monday as they briefed Congress for the first time since the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding earlier this month.

The conference call, which included members of both chambers, marked the administration's first formal engagement with lawmakers since the surprise diplomatic breakthrough. According to sources present, bipartisan lawmakers pressed the officials on issues ranging from sanctions relief to reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

60-Day Timeline for Final Deal

Witkoff and Rubio repeatedly assured lawmakers that the administration's ultimate goal is to negotiate a final deal that would prohibit Iran from keeping its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. The MOU, they explained, outlines a 60-day period during which negotiations toward a comprehensive agreement will take place.

Witkoff told lawmakers that the technical team involved in those negotiations was set to attend talks with Washington and Tehran in Qatar on Tuesday. President Trump confirmed the Doha meeting in a social media post Monday, calling it "perhaps important."

Democrats Push for Details

Democrats on the call pressed for more details regarding the financial benefits Iran could reap under the memorandum, including proceeds from oil sales that had been previously sanctioned. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida went back and forth with Rubio and Witkoff on the matter before the conversation was cut off.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has called for an unclassified briefing on the Iran talks, arguing that the American public deserves transparency about the administration's diplomatic strategy.

Witkoff's Business Interests Questioned

Rep. Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania raised concerns about Witkoff's business interests in the Middle East during the briefing, questioning whether his commercial ties could create conflicts as he negotiates with Iran. Rubio reportedly offered a sharp defense of his colleague, though the exact exchange was not disclosed.

Witkoff, a real estate developer with extensive holdings in the region, has served as Trump's primary envoy to the Middle East alongside Jared Kushner. The pair have been instrumental in negotiating the one-page, 14-point memorandum that now serves as the framework for a potential comprehensive deal.

Strait of Hormuz Remains Critical

The ongoing crisis in the Strait of Hormuz hung over the briefing. Iran attacked a Singaporean-flagged container ship last week, prompting the International Maritime Organization to pause evacuation operations through the critical waterway. Ship traffic dropped sharply over the weekend, with only 29 vessels passing through on Saturday and 12 on Sunday.

Both sides agreed to halt strikes as the Doha meeting was announced, though Iran has sent mixed signals about its intentions. Iranian officials have insisted on their right to control shipping through the strait, which handles roughly 20 percent of global oil trade.

Path Forward Uncertain

The briefing did little to resolve the underlying tensions between the administration and its congressional critics. Republicans largely expressed support for the diplomatic effort, while Democrats demanded more oversight of the negotiating process.

With technical teams heading to Doha this week, the coming days will reveal whether the MOU can serve as a foundation for a broader agreement or whether the fragile diplomatic opening will collapse amid renewed hostilities in the Persian Gulf.