Efforts to extend the ceasefire between the United States and Iran remain uncertain after a high-level meeting chaired by President Donald Trump ended without a final decision on the way forward.
The meeting, held Friday in the White House Situation Room, brought together senior US officials to review a proposed framework that could prolong the current truce and open the door to broader negotiations.
According to US officials, Washington and Tehran had reached a preliminary memorandum of understanding on Thursday. The proposal reportedly includes a 60-day extension of the ceasefire and the launch of discussions regarding the future of Iran’s nuclear programme.
However, the agreement still requires approval from both President Trump and Iran’s leadership.
Following the meeting, no official decision was announced, leaving uncertainty over whether the framework will move forward.
Trump reiterated several conditions he considers non-negotiable. He stated that Iran must permanently abandon any ambition to develop nuclear weapons, allow unrestricted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, and ensure that any naval mines in the strategic waterway are removed.
A White House official said the president would only support an agreement that protects US interests and guarantees that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon.
Earlier on Friday, Trump indicated he was prepared to lift the US naval blockade around the Strait of Hormuz, potentially allowing commercial vessels stranded in the area to resume their journeys.
He also insisted that Iran permit the removal and destruction of its stockpile of enriched uranium, a demand that remains one of the most contentious issues in the negotiations.
Iranian officials have pushed back against several of these claims.
The country’s Fars News Agency reported that no provision concerning the destruction of nuclear materials was included in the proposed memorandum.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baqaei, also stated that Tehran remains focused on ending the conflict and is not currently engaged in negotiations over its nuclear programme.
For years, the United States has demanded that Iran halt the production of highly enriched uranium and eliminate its existing stockpile, arguing that the material could potentially be used to build nuclear weapons.
Iran continues to reject those accusations, maintaining that its nuclear activities are intended solely for peaceful civilian purposes.
Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested that Washington retains the capability to resume military operations if necessary, saying US forces remain fully prepared for any future action.
Vice-President JD Vance also acknowledged that negotiators are still working through key disagreements, particularly regarding uranium enrichment.
While expressing optimism, Vance noted that the two sides have not yet reached a final agreement.
Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, struck a cautious tone, stressing that Tehran would judge any agreement based on actions rather than promises.
Tensions remain high despite the ceasefire, with both sides accusing each other of recent violations.
On Thursday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had targeted a US military base in Kuwait in response to earlier strikes on the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas.
US Central Command condemned the attack, describing it as a serious breach of the ceasefire agreement.
The conflict began on 28 February when the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran. Tehran responded with attacks on Israel and US-aligned countries in the Gulf, while also disrupting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a route that normally handles around 20% of global energy shipments.
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