Iran has denied reports that it is discussing an extension of a ceasefire with the United States, saying Tehran does not regard the arrangement as having a fixed start date that could be prolonged.
A senior Iranian source told Reuters on Wednesday that talks through mediators are instead focused on whether Washington will return to the interim agreement reached in June and establish a timetable for implementing its commitments.
The comments followed a report by Turkey’s Anadolu news agency, citing Pakistani government sources, that Iran and the United States had agreed to extend a 60-day ceasefire linked to the interim deal.
The Iranian source rejected that account.
“There is no talk of an extension because, from Iran’s perspective, there is no period that began and therefore nothing to extend,” the source said, accusing Washington of violating the interim agreement within 48 hours and later abandoning it.
The June agreement called for an immediate and permanent end to military operations on all fronts. It subsequently unravelled, with US President Donald Trump declaring the arrangement “over” on July 7 and Iran’s foreign ministry announcing a week later that the agreement had been suspended.
The 60-day provision in the deal referred instead to an extendable negotiating period during which Washington and Tehran were expected to work towards a final agreement addressing Iran’s nuclear programme and the lifting of US sanctions.
Several conditions were also expected to be addressed before further negotiations, including a ceasefire in Lebanon, freedom of navigation in the Gulf and waivers allowing Iran to sell its oil.
The Iranian source said mediators were currently discussing a possible US return to the interim framework and the establishment of a timetable for fulfilling the agreement.
“There has been absolutely no progress on this issue,” the source said.
The conflicting accounts underline the continuing uncertainty surrounding diplomatic efforts to revive the June framework and prevent another escalation between Iran and the United States.