The future of a proposedUS-Iran agreementremains uncertain after Vice President JD Vance said President Donald Trump has yet to decide whether he will sign off on a draft memorandum of understanding currently being negotiated between Washington and Tehran. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Vance said discussions were continuing over several unresolved issues, particularly concerning Iran’s nuclear activities and enriched uranium programme.
“I think it’s hard to say exactly when or if the president is going to sign the MOU. We’re going back and forth on a couple of language points,” Vance said. If anything, Vance's remarks indicate that while negotiations appear to be advancing, the agreement has not yet secured final approval from the White House.
Vance indicated that substantial progress has been made in the talks but stressed that important differences remain. According to the vice president, negotiators are still discussing provisions linked to Iran’s nuclear programme and the future handling of its enriched uranium stockpiles.
“Hopefully, we’ll continue to make progress, the president will be in a position where he can endorse the agreement, but obviously that’s still TBD,” Vance added. The comments suggest that while a framework may be taking shape, final endorsement will depend on whether US negotiators can secure terms that satisfy Trump’s conditions.
The negotiations come amid efforts to stabilise a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Iran has previously accused Washington of violating the truce following recent military strikes, but Vance sought to downplay concerns over isolated incidents.
Iran’s army chief has threatened preemptive military action Wednesday over Trump's 'rhetoric' targeting the Islamic Republic.
“These ceasefires are always a little messy,” he told CNN. “Sometimes these things have little flare-ups.” US officials have indicated that discussions are focused on extending the ceasefire framework and creating conditions for broader negotiations.
According to reports, the proposed memorandum of understanding would establish a 60-day framework aimed at reducing tensions and addressing long-standing disputes. One of the most significant provisions reportedly concerns the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy corridor. Under the draft arrangement, shipping through the waterway would be guaranteed as unrestricted, with no tolls or interference to commercial vessels.
Iran would also reportedly be required to remove mines from the Strait within 30 days, while the United States would gradually ease its naval blockade as commercial maritime traffic returns to normal levels. The draft framework further includes an Iranian commitment not to pursue nuclear weapons.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent earlier suggested that negotiators may be moving towards a breakthrough but cautioned that several of Trump's red lines remain unresolved. “We perhaps have the makings of a deal here,” Bessent said, while adding that Trump would not approve an agreement that falls short of US objectives.
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