The United States and Iran remain locked in negotiations over a possible agreement to end the war, with Vice‑President JD Vance cautioning that several sticking points still need to be resolved.
Asked by the BBC if US President Donald Trump was close to signing a deal, Vance said it was too early to predict “when or if” the two sides would finalise an agreement. He noted that negotiators were “going back and forth on a couple of language points,” including the “question of enrichment.”
“We’re not there yet, but we’re very close and we’re going to keep on working at it,” Vance told reporters in Washington DC, striking an optimistic tone and insisting the US believed Iran was negotiating in “good faith.”
Reports suggest the deal would extend the ceasefire for 60 days and open talks on the future of Iran’s nuclear programme.
US officials said earlier on Thursday that a framework had been agreed, pending approval from Trump and Iran’s leadership. But Iran’s semi‑official Tasnim news agency reported the deal had not been finalised or confirmed.
The US has long demanded that Iran halt production of highly enriched uranium and dispose of its existing stockpile, which could theoretically be used to build nuclear weapons. Trump has floated options including removing the uranium, diluting it in place, or transferring it to a third location.
Extending the ceasefire would also allow negotiators to tackle more complex issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme and its remaining stockpile.
Reports say the deal could permit “unrestricted” passage through the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran given 30 days to clear mines from the narrow shipping lane. In return, the US would lift its blockade and issue sanction waivers to allow Iran to resume oil sales.
Axios reported Thursday that Trump had been briefed on the proposal but did not immediately sign off, opting to take several days to consider it.
On Wednesday, Iranian state media described elements of what they called an unofficial draft of a 14‑point memorandum of understanding, including lifting Washington’s naval blockade, withdrawing US forces from the “vicinity of Iran,” and restoring non‑military traffic through the Strait of Hormuz under joint Iranian‑Omani management. The White House dismissed the report as a “complete fabrication.”
The conflicting accounts underscored how fluid the negotiations remain. Since the initial ceasefire took effect on 8 April, Trump has repeatedly suggested progress was being made, but no substantive results have yet emerged.
Pressure is mounting on him to end the war — from Gulf allies, Democrats opposed to the conflict, and some Republicans in Congress concerned about its duration.
Trump and other officials have warned that “option B” — a return to combat operations — remains on the table.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which one‑fifth of the world’s liquefied natural gas and oil normally passes, has been closed during the conflict, disrupting global fuel trade.
