The United States and Iran reached an agreement on a memorandum of understanding to extend the ceasefire for 60 days, but the U.S. president, Donald Trump, has not yet approved it, four Reuters sources familiar with the matter said.
The agreement will establish how to handle Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which will be among the first issues discussed during the 60-day window, according to a previous Axios report that disclosed the news.
The White House declined to comment.
The Trump administration has said several times that an agreement to end the fighting was near, but Iran contested or downplayed the claims.
Initially, Trump said the war would last four to six weeks, but it is now three months old. At times, he suggested the conflict could end in a few days, but then suggested it could continue for some time.
Over the weekend, expectations of an agreement rose when Trump did not attend his son’s wedding, citing “government-related circumstances.” On Sunday, a senior Trump administration official downplayed an imminent agreement but said there was a working understanding of the general contours of an agreement.
Trump has faced increasing pressure from hardline members of his own party regarding Iran, who have pressed him not to make any deal that does not immediately address Iran’s nuclear program.
The growing voter concerns about high prices, especially gasoline, have increased political pressure on Trump’s Republican Party, which is likely to struggle to maintain control of the House of Representatives and, possibly, the Senate.
Trump said his main objective in the war is to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon with its highly enriched uranium. Tehran has consistently denied any plans to do so.
