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White House deliberates on ceasefire extension
US President Donald Trump convened senior advisors in the White House Situation Room on Friday to finalize conditions for extending the ceasefire with Iran, but the meeting ended without a clear path forward, officials confirmed.
Trump's non-negotiable demands
The president outlined three key requirements for any agreement: Iran must permanently abandon nuclear weapons development, the Strait of Hormuz must be reopened to unrestricted two-way shipping, and all naval mines in the waterway must be removed. Trump also insisted Iran allow the US to dismantle its enriched uranium stockpiles.
"No financial transactions will occur until further notice," Trump stated in a social media post earlier Friday. "Other secondary issues have been resolved."
Ceasefire framework in limbo
A preliminary memorandum of understanding, agreed upon by both nations on Thursday, proposed a 60-day ceasefire extension and the initiation of broader nuclear negotiations. However, Iran's leadership has repeatedly rejected discussions on its nuclear program, which it maintains is solely for civilian purposes.
"President Trump will only accept a deal that benefits America and meets his non-negotiable conditions. Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons."
White House official, via CBS News
Iran dismisses US claims
Iran's Fars news agency called Trump's statements a "blend of truth and falsehoods," asserting that the memorandum of understanding contained no provisions for dismantling nuclear materials. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei reiterated on state television that Iran's priority remains "ending the conflict," not negotiating its nuclear program.
Chief negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf emphasized distrust in verbal assurances, stating in a social media post: "The only credible commitments are actions. The side better prepared for war the day after an agreement will prevail."
Military tensions persist
Recent days have seen mutual accusations of ceasefire violations. On Thursday, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) struck a US air base in Kuwait, claiming it was the origin of earlier attacks on the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas. US Central Command condemned the strike as a "flagrant violation" of the truce.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested at a Singapore security summit that American military stockpiles were sufficient to "resume operations" in Iran if necessary, citing a balance of "high-end and more abundant munitions."
Global energy concerns
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for 20% of global oil shipments, remains effectively closed due to the conflict. Vice President JD Vance acknowledged ongoing negotiations over "linguistic details," including uranium enrichment limits, but conceded: "We're close but not yet finalized."
