US and Iran Agree to 60-Day Ceasefire Extension Amid Ongoing Tensions
Ceasefire Agreement Between US and Iran
Washington/Dubai: On Thursday, the United States and Iran reached a preliminary agreement to prolong their ceasefire, pending President Donald Trump's approval. This development follows Iran's attack on a US air base in Kuwait, which was a response to US airstrikes targeting what Washington described as an Iranian drone operation. Sources indicate that both parties have agreed to a memorandum of understanding to extend the ceasefire for an additional 60 days, although it awaits Trump's endorsement.
The agreement will outline how to manage Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which is expected to be one of the primary topics during the upcoming 60-day period, as reported by Axios. The White House has refrained from commenting on the situation. Following the news, oil prices experienced a decline, fueled by optimism regarding a potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has frequently stated that the end of the conflict is near, but during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, he expressed dissatisfaction with the negotiations and reiterated that the US is not considering easing sanctions, a key demand from Tehran.
Recent limited attacks have underscored the delicate nature of negotiations aimed at transforming the fragile ceasefire established in early April into a sustainable agreement to conclude the three-month-long war, which has resulted in numerous casualties and the closure of the crucial Strait of Hormuz. The US Central Command reported that American forces intercepted five Iranian attack drones and targeted a ground control facility in Bandar Abbas, which was preparing to launch another drone. Kuwaiti forces also intercepted a ballistic missile aimed at their territory, which hosts a significant US military presence. A US official, speaking anonymously, described these actions as defensive measures intended to uphold the ceasefire.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for targeting the US base linked to an earlier attack near Bandar Abbas airport, warning that any further incidents would provoke a 'more decisive response,' according to the Tasnim news agency. Kuwait condemned the missile attack and called for Iran to cease what it termed a serious escalation. This surge in violence, the second this week, coincided with the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, which is celebrated throughout the region, where various nations are embroiled in the conflict stemming from US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.
Pakistan, acting as a mediator, announced that its foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, would meet with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Friday, although the significance of this meeting remains uncertain. In Lebanon, which Iran insists must be included in any comprehensive peace agreement, Israel has reportedly begun targeting infrastructure associated with Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Tyre and has conducted strikes in Beirut. The US also cautioned Oman against participating in any toll imposition in the Strait of Hormuz, warning that it would penalize any partners involved in such initiatives.