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US and Iran reach tentative 60-day ceasefire deal

By Tylor Brooks | USA Herald

WASHINGTON — U.S. and Iranian negotiators reached a tentative agreement Thursday to extend their current ceasefire by 60 days and launch new talks targeting Tehran's nuclear program. The emerging memorandum of understanding comes amid a volatile week of missile strikes and naval blockades, leaving the final approval of the pact directly in the hands of President Donald Trump.

White House weighs fragile Persian Gulf truce

The potential agreement seeks to cool down a three-month-old war that has severely disrupted global energy markets and triggered direct military exchanges. Vice President JD Vance confirmed the existence of the draft agreement on Thursday evening but signaled that the administration is still reviewing the fine print before the president attaches his signature.

"It's hard to say exactly when or if the president's going to sign," Vance told reporters, indicating that specific phrasing remains a battlefield of its own. "We're going back and forth on a couple of language points."

The diplomatic breakthrough developed even as active hostilities threatened to shatter the existing peace framework. Just hours before word of the deal leaked, defense systems in Kuwait intercepted incoming missiles and drones fired from Iran. U.S. Central Command labeled the incident an egregious violation of the ceasefire, emphasizing the immense friction holding the current truce together.

Freeing the critical Strait of Hormuz

A central pillar of the tentative deal addresses the shipping lanes of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime chokepoint where one-fifth of the world's petroleum and natural gas transits. During the three-month conflict, Tehran effectively sealed the waterway, causing global oil prices to surge.

According to a U.S. official familiar with the negotiations, the new memorandum outlines strict terms for the maritime corridor:

• Iran cannot levy tolls or fees on commercial vessels navigating the strait.

• Tehran must extract all underwater mines from the waterway within 30 days.

• The U.S. will systematically lift its naval blockade on southern Iranian ports.

• Washington will relax specific energy sanctions, allowing Iranian oil exports to resume.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressed optimism regarding the economic relief a finalized deal could bring, predicting that global oil prices could drop rapidly once both nations formally execute the document.

Nuclear stockpile creates diplomatic gridlock

Despite progress on maritime commerce, the primary obstacle to a permanent peace remains Iran's highly enriched uranium. Data from the International Atomic Energy Agency indicates that Iran holds 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60% purity. This chemical state rests just a short, technical step away from the 90% threshold required for weapons-grade material.

The Trump administration entered the conflict with the explicit objective of dismantling Iran's nuclear weapons capabilities. However, the current framework focuses on containment rather than immediate, total disarmament.

"We're in a position where we could substantially set back their nuclear program, not just during the term of this president but over the long term," Vance noted, defending the strategic value of the interim arrangement.

Complicating the nuclear track is the physical location of the assets. The enriched material sits buried deep beneath three heavily fortified nuclear installations that sustained severe structural damage from American airstrikes last year. While outside analysts suggested transferring the stockpile to a neutral third party like Russia or China, President Trump explicitly stated he would not support such an arrangement.

Geopolitical demands outside the Persian Gulf further cloud the negotiations. Tehran insists that any long-term pact must include a cessation of Israeli military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. This demand complicates matters as Israeli airstrikes hit Tyre and Beirut on Thursday, killing at least 14 people and ensuring that regional violence remains tied to the diplomatic outcome in Washington.