Reports from several media outlets indicate that the United States and Iran have reached a preliminary agreement to extend the ceasefire, although U.S. President Donald Trump has not yet given final approval.
The news was first reported on Thursday by Axios, citing American officials. Hours later, Reuters and Agence France-Presse also confirmed the report through their own sources. Neither the U.S. president nor Iranian officials have publicly commented on the reports so far.
According to Axios, the two sides have agreed on a 60-day memorandum of understanding to extend the ceasefire and begin negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. However, the proposal still requires Trump’s final signature.
One American official told Axios that the U.S. president had informed mediators that he “wants a few days to think about it.”
The reports emerged just hours after Iran, in response to what Washington described as an “Iranian drone operation,” targeted a U.S. air base in Kuwait. United States Central Command stated that the missile was intercepted and shot down.
Following the Axios report, oil prices which had risen earlier reversed course and declined.
Trump has repeatedly said that the war is nearing an end. However, during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, he stated that he was still dissatisfied with the progress of the negotiations and emphasized that the United States is not negotiating over reducing sanctions or releasing Iranian financial assets, which Iranian officials have demanded.
Writer:Salima Hakimi
