The United States and Iran are reportedly close to reaching an agreement to extend their ceasefire in the Middle East conflict, although the proposed deal still awaits approval from US President Donald Trump.
US Vice President JD Vance said negotiations between Washington and Tehran had made significant progress, but discussions were continuing over specific language in the memorandum of understanding.
“It’s hard to say exactly when or if the President is going to sign the MOU,” Vance told reporters on Thursday. “We’re going back and forth on a couple of language points. We’ve made a lot of progress here.”
Trump remained silent on the matter until Friday morning, despite reports from US sources suggesting that only his approval was needed to finalise the agreement. The uncertainty highlighted the fragile nature of diplomacy three months after the war destabilised the Middle East and shook the global economy.
Optimism surrounding the possible agreement lifted Asian stock markets on Friday, while oil prices eased slightly as investors monitored developments around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route.
According to reports, the proposed deal would guarantee unrestricted commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran expected to remove naval mines within 30 days while the US would lift its naval blockade once normal maritime traffic resumes.
However, Iranian authorities have not publicly confirmed any commitment to the agreement. Sources quoted by Iranian media warned that any deal announced unilaterally by Trump would not be recognised by Tehran.
Iran’s Tasnim news agency, citing a source close to negotiators, reported that the final text was still under discussion and that mediator Pakistan would be informed if an agreement is concluded.
Meanwhile, Qatar has emerged as a key player in the diplomatic efforts. Qatar’s state news agency said Trump spoke with the Gulf nation’s ruler on Thursday regarding the latest developments aimed at ending the conflict.
Doha recently hosted Iranian officials as regional powers intensified efforts to preserve the fragile ceasefire that has remained in place since April 8.
Despite ongoing negotiations, both Washington and Tehran have accused each other of violating the truce. The US recently launched strikes on the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas, while Iran responded with retaliatory fire targeting what it described as an American airbase involved in the attacks.
Iranian state broadcaster IRIB said the Revolutionary Guards carried out the retaliation but did not disclose the location of the targeted base. Kuwait, which hosts US troops, later confirmed that its air defence systems intercepted incoming missiles and drones.
Kuwait’s foreign ministry condemned what it described as “criminal Iranian attacks” targeting its territory, calling the incident a dangerous escalation.
US Central Command described the attack as a serious breach of the ceasefire agreement.
Iranian forces also reportedly fired on four vessels attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without authorization, while US forces said they intercepted five attack drones in and around the waterway and prevented another launch near Bandar Abbas.
A US official said the military response was “measured” and intended to preserve the ceasefire, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned of a “firm response” to any further attacks.
Iranian state television reported on Friday that 24 ships had successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the previous 24 hours under coordination with the Revolutionary Guards and Iran’s foreign ministry. However, it warned that vessels from “hostile countries” would face severe military action.
Elsewhere in the region, tensions continued on the Lebanon front as Lebanon’s culture minister, Ghassan Salame, accused Israel of striking the medieval Beaufort Castle overlooking the southern city of Nabatieh.
Salame also warned that the ancient ruins of Tyre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, were under serious threat from ongoing bombardments.
The Beaufort Castle, also known as Qalaat al-Chakif, had previously been used as an Israeli military base during Israel’s occupation of southern Lebanon, which ended in 2000.
A separate ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah was meant to take effect on April 17, but both sides have repeatedly accused each other of violating the truce.
The conflict expanded into Lebanon in March after Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel following the killing of Iran’s supreme leader in joint US-Israeli strikes, triggering retaliatory Israeli attacks and a ground invasion.
On Thursday, Israeli forces intensified strikes across southern Lebanon and carried out their first raid near Beirut in weeks. Lebanese authorities said a woman and two children were killed in the attacks despite the ceasefire agreement.
