According to U.S. media reports, the United States and Iran are increasingly approaching a consensus, but significant differences remain, making it uncertain whether an agreement can be reached. However, if a framework agreement is achieved, the ceasefire will be extended.
According to AXIOS, two U.S. officials stated that negotiators from the United States and Iran made progress during Tuesday’s talks, moving toward a framework agreement to end the war.
Behind these long-time rivals, mediators from Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey are assisting both sides in bridging remaining differences, with an aim to reach a final agreement before the ceasefire expires on April 21.
A Pakistani delegation led by Army Chief Munir arrived in Tehran on Wednesday to hold talks with Iranian officials.
U.S. officials and sources familiar with the mediation warned that no guarantees can be made regarding the possibility of reaching an agreement, given the significant gaps between the two sides.
A U.S. official revealed that the American negotiation team, including Vice President Vance, White House envoy Witkowski, and senior advisor Kushner, continued phone calls with the Iranians and mediators while exchanging draft proposals on Tuesday.
"They have been making calls and engaging in discreet communication with all relevant countries, and they are getting closer to reaching a consensus," the U.S. official said.
A second U.S. official confirmed that progress was indeed made on Tuesday.
A third U.S. official stated, "We want to reach an agreement. Some within their government also want to reach an agreement. The challenge now is how to get their entire government to agree to this deal."
U.S. officials and sources familiar with the mediation indicated that a new round of face-to-face direct negotiations is likely to take place in the coming days before the expiration of the ceasefire agreement, although specific dates have yet to be finalized.
Vance said on Tuesday, "I believe the people sitting across from us want to reach an agreement... I feel very positive about where we currently stand."
His remarks were deeply significant, as the vice president did not directly negotiate with Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
A U.S. official and a source familiar with the mediation noted that if a framework agreement could be reached, the ceasefire would need to be extended to allow time to finalize the specific details of a comprehensive agreement.
U.S. officials admitted, 'The details are complex, you cannot resolve them within two days.'
A second U.S. official stated, 'The United States has not formally agreed to extend the ceasefire agreement. The U.S. and Iran remain in continuous contact in hopes of reaching an agreement.'
U.S. officials indicated that the maritime blockade implemented by Trump – which has completely cut off Iran's oil exports – along with the country’s deepening economic crisis, is increasingly pressuring Tehran.
A U.S. official frankly stated, 'Iran is at its wit’s end. They are bankrupt. We know it, and they know we know it.'
Iran exports about 1.5 million barrels of oil per day, generating approximately $140 million in revenue. Miad Maleki, a former U.S. Treasury sanctions expert on Iran and now a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, stated, 'A maritime blockade wiped out that revenue overnight.'
Another U.S. government official even remarked, 'We don’t need to invade Kharg Island now. We just need to strangle it to death.'
Government officials pointed out that if Iran cannot export oil and its onshore storage facilities reach capacity, it will be forced to halt pumping operations, potentially leading to the shutdown of wells and causing long-term economic damage.
An official said, 'What does it mean if Iran, a country renowned for its oil, cannot even produce oil? It would be worse than Venezuela.'
Editor/Doris