The United States and Iran remain at odds over several key issues despite reports that a framework agreement to extend their ceasefire and begin negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear programme is taking shape.
US Vice-President JD Vance cautioned that it was too early to know “when or if” a final deal would be reached, saying negotiators were still “going back and forth on a couple of language points”, including the contentious issue of uranium enrichment. While Vance said the two sides were negotiating in “good faith” and that “we’re not there yet, but we’re very close”, Iranian media reported that no agreement had yet been finalised.
The proposed arrangement would reportedly extend the ceasefire for 60 days, reopen shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, ease US restrictions on Iranian oil exports and pave the way for broader discussions over Iran’s nuclear activities. However, conflicting statements from Washington and Tehran highlighted the fragile state of negotiations, with both sides continuing to accuse each other of ceasefire violations.
President Donald Trump has continued to signal optimism about a deal, but US officials stressed that no final decision has been made and warned that military options remain available if diplomacy fails.
