U.S. and Iran Close In on Ceasefire Deal, But Trump Hasn't Signed Off

The U.S. and Iran may be on the verge of extending their ceasefire, though the deal is still waiting on sign-off from President Trump and top Iranian leaders. A senior Arab official directly involved in the talks told NBC News that negotiators from both sides have reached an agreement, with final approval still pending.

The reported deal, details of which were released by Iranian media, would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and extend the ceasefire by 60 days to allow negotiations on Iran's nuclear program to continue. That timeline is something President Trump has said is essential to any long-term agreement. Vice President JD Vance said progress is being made, though some language points are still being worked out. "We're going back and forth on a couple of language points," Vance said. "I do think we've made a lot of progress here."

The push toward a deal hasn't been smooth. The U.S. and Iran exchanged fire near the Strait of Hormuz twice this week, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking to American forces in Singapore, made clear that military pressure remains on the table. Quoting the president, Hegseth said, "Iran can either do it the right way with a deal across the table, or they can deal with my guy on the left."

Adding to the pressure, the Trump administration announced new sanctions on Iran's oil trade, even as Iran is pushing for sanctions relief in the negotiations. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said relief won't be considered until the president's core goals are met, citing three conditions: "Open the Strait, highly enriched uranium, no nuclear program."

President Trump, for his part, pushed back on the idea that political pressure at home would rush him toward a deal. "I don't view that window," Trump said. "I have to do what's right."