Vance says 'a lot of progress' made on Iran ceasefire extension, but Trump not ready to sign

Diplomatic progress amid military escalation

U.S. Vice President JD Vance told reporters on Thursday that Washington and Tehran have made "a lot of progress" toward an agreement to extend the ceasefire that has been in place since early April. Speaking at Joint Base Andrews, Vance said the two sides are currently negotiating "a couple of points regarding the wording of the text" and expressed hope that President Donald Trump would soon be in a position to endorse the deal.

We are negotiating some wording. We have made a lot of progress. We hope we will continue to make progress and the president will be able to approve the agreement, but of course, that remains to be determined.

Despite the optimistic tone, Vance cautioned that it is "difficult to predict exactly when or if the president will sign." The remarks came hours after U.S. sources indicated a preliminary framework had been reached for a 60-day extension of the truce, which would also include a commitment to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz and initiate deeper negotiations on Iran's nuclear program for the first time since the war began on February 28.

Overnight strikes test fragile truce

The diplomatic maneuvering unfolded against a backdrop of renewed violence. The U.S. military confirmed it carried out defensive strikes on Iranian drone operations near the Strait of Hormuz, shooting down four attack drones and hitting a ground control station in the port city of Bandar Abbas that was preparing to launch a fifth. A U.S. official described the actions as "measured, purely defensive and intended to maintain the ceasefire."

These actions were measured, purely defensive and intended to maintain the ceasefire.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responded by targeting a U.S. airbase, which Tasnim news agency said was the base from which the attack on the control station near Bandar Abbas was launched. Kuwait, which hosts a major U.S. base, reported intercepting missiles and drones late Wednesday, with the U.S. calling the Iranian attack on its Gulf ally an "egregious ceasefire violation." Israel also sounded sirens over hostile aircraft activity in its north.

Conflicting claims over downed aircraft

Late Thursday, Iranian state television reported that a U.S. aircraft had been destroyed near the city of Bushehr, citing local official Masud Tangestani in Jam district. The U.S. Central Command swiftly denied the claim. "No U.S. aircraft have been shot down. All U.S. aircraft are accounted for," Centcom stated on X. It remained unclear whether the Iranian report referred to a manned aircraft or a drone.

Framework for extended truce takes shape

According to U.S. sources cited by AFP and Axios, negotiators have agreed on a framework that would extend the ceasefire by 60 days and commit both sides to renewed talks on Iran's nuclear program. The preliminary agreement reportedly includes an Iranian commitment not to seek nuclear weapons, though it does not resolve the broader nuclear issue. Iran has not confirmed any consensus, and Trump has dismissed an Iranian state TV report claiming it obtained an unofficial draft of a deal to restore commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz within a month, with Iran and Oman jointly managing traffic.

It is very clear that the Iranians want a deal and to open the Strait of Hormuz.

Vance acknowledged that outstanding issues remain concerning Iran's nuclear activities, highly enriched uranium stockpiles, and enrichment capabilities. Oil prices, which had fallen 5% on Wednesday, rebounded more than 3% after reports of the escalation, while stocks fell and the dollar rose.

What comes next

With the current ceasefire in place since April 8, the proposed 60-day extension would push the truce into mid-summer, buying time for deeper negotiations. Vance emphasized that Iran is negotiating "in good faith" but stressed that the final decision rests with Trump. The president told a cabinet meeting on Wednesday that he was not yet satisfied with the deal and that the U.S. was not discussing easing sanctions on Iran. The war, which began with joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on February 28, has killed thousands and sent global energy prices sharply higher.