US and Iran Agree Draft Deal to Extend Ceasefire

The United States and Iran reached an agreement on a memorandum of understanding to extend the ceasefire for another 60 days. However, according to sources familiar with the negotiations, the document still needs to be approved by US President Donald Trump.

Part of the agreement is to address Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which will be among the first topics discussed during the new ceasefire period. The White House declined to comment on the information.

Donald Trump's administration has repeatedly claimed that an end to the conflict is near, while Tehran has disputed or downplayed those statements. Trump initially spoke of the war lasting four to six weeks, but the conflict has been going on for three months.

Expectations of a deal rose over the weekend after Trump canceled his plans and stayed in Washington. Later, however, administration officials tempered expectations of an imminent breakthrough, though they confirmed agreement on the basic contours of a deal.

Trump has repeatedly stated that the main goal of the conflict is to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. But Tehran denied pursuing that goal.

(reuters, bak)