Vance says US and Iran are very close to ceasefire deal but not yet final

US officials earlier told the BBC that, pending the approval of President Donald Trump and Iran's leadership, the framework of a ceasefire extension deal had been agreed.

Diplomatic Progress

In a statement on Wednesday, Vice President JD Vance confirmed that Washington and Tehran are "very close" to finalizing a ceasefire agreement, though he stressed the deal is not yet complete. The announcement follows months of indirect negotiations between the two countries, with mediators shuttling proposals between delegations in a third-party capital. Vance’s remarks mark the highest-level confirmation from the US side that a truce framework exists, pending final sign-off from both Trump and Iran’s supreme leader.

Framework Details

The framework reportedly covers a temporary halt to hostilities and an extension of the existing ceasefire terms, though specific provisions have not been publicly disclosed. US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the BBC that the outline was agreed upon in principle during recent back-channel talks. The deal’s finalization now rests on approval from Trump, who has demanded stringent verification measures, and Iran’s leadership, which faces internal pressure from hardliner factions.

Key Players

Vance emphasized that while negotiators have bridged major gaps, “nothing is signed until both leaders say yes.” The vice president’s comments come as Washington seeks to de-escalate tensions that have spiked over Iran’s advancing nuclear program. Tehran has consistently denied seeking atomic weapons, but the International Atomic Energy Agency reports that its enriched uranium stockpile now exceeds thresholds set by the 2015 nuclear agreement, which the US exited in 2018.

Next Steps

Diplomatic sources indicate that a formal signing could occur within days if both capitals give final authorization. The potential truce extension would mark the first major diplomatic breakthrough between the US and Iran since 2022, when a prisoner swap was arranged. Analysts caution that even a signed deal remains fragile, as past interim agreements have collapsed due to mutual accusations of non-compliance.

Context

The current negotiations mirror the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which limited Iran’s enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief, though that accord unraveled after the US withdrawal. A similar framework for a temporary ceasefire was floated in late 2023 but stalled over disagreements on missile programs and regional proxies.