US and Iran 'very close' to deal but 'not there yet', Vance says

Vice President J.D. Vance said the US and Iran still need to work out several sticking points before an agreement on the war can be reached. Speaking on Thursday evening, Vance said negotiators were "going back and forth on a couple of language points", which include the "question of enrichment". He told reporters, "We're not there yet, but we're very close and we're going to keep on working at it."

Earlier on Thursday, US officials told the BBC that the two countries had agreed on a framework of a deal, pending the approval of Trump and Iran's leadership. The deal would reportedly extend the ceasefire for 60 days and launch talks on the future of Iran's nuclear programme. Since the initial ceasefire between the US and Iran came into effect on April 8, Trump has repeatedly suggested that the two sides are close to a deal and that negotiations are progressing, but so far, there have been been no substantive results.

Trump had suggested that the US could take Iran's existing stockpile of highly enriched uranium, or, together with Iran, dilute it in place or in a third location. Reports say the purported deal could allow "unrestricted" passage through the Strait of Hormuz, and that Iran would have 30 days to remove mines from the narrow shipping passageway. The US would also lift its blockade, and issue sanction waivers to allow Iran to resume selling oil. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declined to confirm that an agreement had been reached, saying, "It's always a mistake to get out ahead of the president, and it is all going to be the president's decision".