US and Iranian negotiators reportedly reached an agreement on Thursday to extend the ceasefire of the three-month old war by 60 days and initiate talks over Tehran’s nuclear programme. However, US President Donald Trump’s approval is still required on the emerging memorandum of understanding.
Iranian authorities have not confirmed any tentative deal with the US but several outlets, including AP, and Axios reported the development quoting US officials and regional sources involved in the mediation.
Negotiating terms amid regional hostilities
The reported agreement worked out between Washington and Tehran comes at a time when the ongoing ceasefire, brokered on April 8, appears to be wavering amid continued strikes by the military of both sides.
The US officials said that deal term has broadly been agreed but approval is required from the senior leadership. And the Axios report added that Iranians later said they had the necessary approvals and were ready to sign the agreement.
Presidential deliberation and red lines
The US negotiators had briefed President Trump on the truce agreement but the Republican leader didn’t sign it immediately. “The president relayed to the mediators that he wants a couple of days to think about it,” a US official reportedly said.
During a White House press briefing on Thursday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was asked about reports claiming the finalisation of talks between Washington and Tehran over draft MoU and he responded saying the two sides “have been going back and forth,” adding that Trump has “made it very clear that he has several red lines”.
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Uncertain implementation and recent violations
“Everything depends on what the president wants to do and president Trump is not going to make a bad deal for the American people,” Bessent further said without giving an actual clarity of the state of agreement.
The US military had earlier accused Iran of violating an ongoing ceasefire after American ally Kuwait reported strikes from Tehran targeting the country. Iranian military had said that it was retaliating to US’ hostilities in the southern Iranian region early on Tuesday.
