"US and Iran Make Progress Toward Basic Agreement...Possible Extension of Ceasefire Period"

Back-channel Mediation by Mediators... "Closer to Agreement"
Possibility of Resuming In-person Talks... "Difficult to Resolve in Two Days"

There are reports that the United States and Iran's teams negotiating an end to hostilities made progress in talks on the 14th (local time), bringing them one step closer to a basic agreement.

On the 15th, the U.S. online media outlet Axios reported this news, citing two anonymous U.S. government officials.

On the 12th (local time), U.S. Vice President JD Vance returning home after negotiating a ceasefire with Iran in Islamabad, Pakistan. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News.

According to the report, the United States and Iran are working to narrow their differences and reach an agreement before the ceasefire expires on the 21st, with mediation from Pakistan, Egypt, and Türkiye.

On the same day, according to the Associated Press and other news sources, a Pakistani delegation led by Pakistan Army Chief of Staff Asim Munir held preliminary talks on ending hostilities with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Tehran. The meetings are scheduled to continue until the 16th. There is speculation that as the mediator, Pakistan may have brought the U.S. negotiation proposal to Iran for preliminary coordination.

However, U.S. officials and sources familiar with the mediation emphasized caution, noting that a deal is not guaranteed due to significant differences between the two sides. A Pakistani official said, "We have to wait and see if an agreement is reached," adding, "We are hopeful and working to put pressure on both sides."

According to a U.S. official, the American negotiating team held phone calls and exchanged draft proposals with Iran and the mediating countries the previous day as well. He said, "They have been on the phone with all the countries and conducting behind-the-scenes negotiations, and they are getting closer to a deal." Another U.S. official also told Axios that there had been progress in the talks the previous day.

Previously, the two sides held face-to-face negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan on the 11th and 12th but failed to reach an agreement. With the ceasefire expiration approaching, there is a strong possibility that in-person talks will be resumed to achieve a basic agreement, although a specific schedule has not yet been set. JD Vance, the U.S. Vice President who led the U.S. delegation in those negotiations, said at a Turning Point USA event in Georgia the previous day, "I think the people sitting across from us (the Iranian negotiating representatives) wanted to reach an agreement," and added, "The current situation feels very positive."

A U.S. official and a source familiar with the mediation told Axios that if a basic agreement is reached, the ceasefire period will need to be extended to negotiate the detailed terms. He explained, "The details are complicated, and this is not something that can be handled in two days."

Another U.S. official said, "The United States has not formally agreed to extend the ceasefire," but added, "The United States and Iran are continuing negotiations to reach an agreement."

White House spokesperson Caroline Leavitt said at a press briefing that the dialogue between the United States and Iran has been productive, stating, "We are optimistic about the possibility of an agreement. It is in Iran's best interest to accept President Trump's demands." Regarding the ceasefire extension, she said, "There were some incorrect reports this morning that we formally requested a ceasefire extension, but that is not true at this time," and added, "We remain very committed to negotiations and talks."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.