US and Iran agree 60-day extension of ceasefire, pending Donald Trump's approval

The United States and Iran agreed to extend their ceasefire for 60 days, but the extension required approval from US President Donald Trump. The agreement included a memorandum of understanding and outlined how to address Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, expected to be among the first issues during the extension period. The ceasefire followed US strikes on an Iranian drone operation and an Iranian attack on a US airbase in Kuwait. US forces shot down five Iranian attack drones and struck a ground control station in Bandar Abbas, while Kuwaiti forces intercepted a ballistic missile aimed at Kuwait. The fragility of negotiations was emphasized by continued limited attacks, with hopes for reopening the Strait of Hormuz affecting oil prices.

"The United States and Iran reached an agreement on Thursday to extend their ceasefire, pending the approval of US president Donald Trump, after Iran had targeted a US airbase in Kuwait following US strikes on what Washington called an Iranian drone operation."

"According to four sources familiar with the matter, the two sides agreed a memorandum of understanding to extend the truce for 60 days, but the plan still needed Mr Trump's sign-off. The agreement will state how to address Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which will be among the first issues discussed during the 60-day window, according to an earlier report by Axios, which broke the news."

"US Central Command said US forces had shot down five Iranian attack drones and struck a ground control station in the port city of Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a sixth. Kuwaiti forces had then intercepted a ballistic missile fired towards the country, which hosts a large US base. "These actions were measured, purely defensive and intended to maintain the ceasefire," a US official, who requested anonymity to speak candidly about military operations, told Reuters earlier."

"Mr Trump has repeatedly said the end of the war is close but told media at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday he was not yet satisfied by the negotiations and that the US was not discussing easing sanctions, one of Tehran's demands. The latest attacks, while limited, highlighted the fragility of negotiations to turn the tenuous early-April ceasefire into a lasting agreement to end the three-month-old war - which has killed thousands - and reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz."

Read at Irish Independent