US, Iran extend 60-day ceasefire ahead of Aug. 17 deadline

Pakistani officials confirmed on Wednesday that the United States and Iran have agreed to extend a 60-day ceasefire brokered under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, which was scheduled to expire on August 17.

Extension Agreement

A source close to the mediation process said Washington and Tehran have formally communicated their consent to prolong the truce. "Both sides have conveyed their consent to the mediators to extend the deadline," the source told Anadolu. "However, the two sides are exchanging messages to decide on the extension period," the source added.

Stalled Negotiations

The ceasefire was initially brokered by Islamabad in April, with both sides signing a memorandum of understanding on June 17 to launch negotiations toward a comprehensive settlement. Talks subsequently stalled over fundamental disagreements regarding security guarantees and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz — a vital chokepoint for global energy supplies.

Between July 8 and July 24, the two sides exchanged military strikes, with Washington launching attacks on targets inside Iran and Tehran responding by striking what it described as US military facilities in Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait. The violence underscored the fragility of the truce as diplomats race to finalize terms before the August 17 deadline expires.