Trump Weighs 60-Day Iran Ceasefire Framework as U.S. Demands Open Hormuz, Nuclear Concessions

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – President Donald Trump is weighing whether to approve a 60-day memorandum of understanding with Iran that would extend the fragile ceasefire in the Middle East, reopen the Strait of Hormuz to unrestricted shipping, and launch a new round of negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program.

The proposed framework, first reported by Axios and later confirmed by U.S. sources to multiple outlets, would mark the most significant diplomatic opening since the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran began on February 28. But administration officials cautioned that Trump has not yet signed off on the agreement, and both Washington and Tehran appear to be testing whether the other side can deliver on its commitments.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday that the two sides may have “the makings of a deal,” but stressed that Trump would not accept an agreement that fails to meet America’s core demands.

According to reported details, the framework would extend the ceasefire for 60 days while requiring Iran to restore unrestricted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil chokepoints. Tehran would also reportedly face a 30-day deadline to remove mines from the waterway, while Washington would begin easing its naval blockade on Iranian ports in parallel.

Bessent said Iran must turn over or dispose of its highly enriched uranium, commit to never obtaining a nuclear weapon, and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The Trump administration has also made clear that any sanctions relief would depend on verified Iranian compliance.

“President Trump is not going to make a bad deal for the American people,” Bessent said.

Pakistan has played a central role in mediating the talks, with Gulf allies including Qatar also involved. Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is expected to meet Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Friday, a meeting that could help determine whether the draft framework moves forward.

Still, the path to a deal remains uncertain. Iranian officials have suggested that talks are progressing, but Tehran has not publicly confirmed final approval. Israeli officials also expressed skepticism, saying they had not seen clear evidence that Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had signed off on the terms.

The negotiations come amid renewed military tensions. U.S. Central Command said Iran launched ballistic missiles toward Kuwait this week in what Washington called an “egregious ceasefire violation.” Kuwaiti forces intercepted the attack, while Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry condemned the strike as a dangerous escalation.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it launched retaliatory strikes against an unnamed U.S. base in the region after American attacks on Iranian drone facilities near Bandar Abbas. The U.S. maintains a major military presence in Kuwait and across the Middle East, with more than 40,000 personnel deployed in the region.

Despite the flare-up, the Trump administration appears to be using both military pressure and economic sanctions to force Iran toward a broader settlement. Bessent said the U.S. would continue its “Economic Fury” campaign against Tehran, including new sanctions targeting Iranian oil sales and entities involved in efforts to control or impose tolls on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

The United States and its allies argue that the Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway and that Iran has no legitimate right to restrict navigation or charge vessels for passage. Iran’s clampdown has disrupted global energy flows and driven up oil and gasoline prices since the war began.

Trump has repeatedly said his central objective is clear: Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon. He has also urged Arab and Muslim-majority nations involved in the regional diplomacy to join the Abraham Accords and normalize relations with Israel, a demand that could expand the agreement’s historic significance but also complicate final approval.

For now, the reported memorandum would not end the conflict outright. Rather, it would create a 60-day window to test whether Iran is serious about reopening Hormuz, surrendering its nuclear leverage, and entering a broader settlement.

The coming days may determine whether Trump sees the framework as a strategic breakthrough — or another Iranian delay tactic dressed up as diplomacy.

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