The United States and Iran have reached a tentative memorandum of understanding to extend their ceasefire for 60 days and launch negotiations aimed at permanently ending the conflict, according to US officials, although the framework still requires approval from President Donald Trump and Iran’s leadership.
The proposed agreement follows weeks of stalled diplomacy and repeated accusations by both sides of violating the fragile truce that came into effect on April 8.
US officials told media outlets on Thursday that the framework could mark a significant diplomatic breakthrough after recent clashes in the Gulf threatened to unravel the ceasefire.
However, conflicting reports from Tehran raised doubts over whether the agreement had been finalized.
According to reports first published by Axios and later confirmed by US officials, the proposed framework includes unrestricted vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of the US naval blockade on Iranian ports.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most strategically important shipping routes, carrying a significant share of global oil and liquefied natural gas exports.
Iran has argued that the waterway should be jointly managed by Iran and Oman, while Washington has rejected any form of Iranian control over shipping operations in the strait.
Iranian state-linked media also reported details of what was described as an unofficial 14-point draft memorandum that included the restoration of non-military traffic and sanctions waivers allowing Iran to resume oil exports.
The White House dismissed that reported draft as a “complete fabrication”.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declined to confirm details of the tentative agreement, saying, “It’s always a mistake to get out ahead of the president.”
The proposed framework would also open negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme and its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, issues that have remained central obstacles in talks between Washington and Tehran.
Trump has repeatedly insisted that Iran’s nuclear programme must be dismantled, while Iran has maintained that it is not seeking nuclear weapons and retains the right to enrich uranium domestically under international agreements.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday that Tehran was “not looking for nuclear weapons”.
Meanwhile, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency cited a source close to negotiations denying claims that an agreement had been finalized.
The report said Iran would announce any finalized deal “to the Pakistani mediator and to the people” once negotiations were complete.
The tentative agreement emerged as tensions continued across the region, including renewed exchanges between US and Iranian forces and intensified fighting involving Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.