US officials have said they do not have “unlimited patience” as negotiations over a potential ceasefire extension continue between Tehran and Washington.
Speaking on Thursday, US treasury secretary Scott Bessent blamed delays in getting an agreement over the line on “trouble communicating” with the Iranian government.
He claimed the US delegation is being “patient” but said such patience is not unlimited and that Donald Trump had not relented on his three key demands. The US president has previously insisted any deal include the Strait of Hormuz being opened, Iran committing to not pursue a nuclear programme, and giving up its supply of enriched uranium.
It came after several media outlets reported a 60-day memorandum of understanding had been agreed in principle and is with President Trump for approval.
US officials said the MOU will allow “unrestricted” shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran will reportedly have to remove all mines from the strait within 30 days.
The US naval blockade would also have to be lifted and Iran would commit not to pursue a nuclear weapon, officials told Axios.
Iranian state media denied the reports, saying no deal has been finalised.
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US imposes fresh sanctions on Iran's military oil sales, Treasury says
The US said on Thursday it has imposed new sanctions on Iran's military oil trade, despite some reports that Washington and Tehran have reached a tentative agreement to extend their ceasefire and lift restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Treasury Department said it had sanctioned eight vessels involved in transporting Iranian crude oil and petroleum products to global markets. The vessels included the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker Flora, the Comoros-flagged crude oil tanker Hauncayo and the Panama-flagged tanker Ill Gap.
"We will not allow the Iranian government to increase its oil revenue for the purpose of reconstituting its armed forces and military capabilities," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a release.
President Donald Trump has yet to approve the deal , and Iranian media denied one had been finalised.
Iran 'attacks targets with missiles'
Iran’s armed forces have launched missiles from southern regions of the country towards “specified targets”, according to the country’s Fars news agency.
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Surging prices drives consumer spending as Americans are forced to dip into savings
Surging prices are flattering the dollar amount of spending as the Iran war drives inflation in the United States.
Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of economic activity, increased 0.5% last month after surging 1.0% in March, new data shows.
Hefty tax refunds have provided a cushion for consumers, especially lower-income households.
Consumers are also tapping into savings, with the saving rate dropping to 2.6% last month. That was the lowest level since June 2022 and was down from 3.2% in March.
Income was unchanged. After adjusting for inflation, income at the disposal of households fell 0.5%.
Hormuz deal and ceasefire extension agreed – sources
The United States and Iran have reached an agreement to extend their ceasefire and lift restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, sources say, though US President Donald Trump has yet to approve it and Iranian state media said it had not been finalised.
According to four sources, the agreement would extend the truce for another 60 days and allow traffic to flow through the strategic waterway while negotiators tackle difficult issues such as Iran's nuclear programme.
If approved by leadership in Washington and Tehran, it would amount to the biggest step towards peace since the conflict began on February 28.
Bessent declines to confirm whether deal has been agreed
Scott Bessent this afternoon declined to confirm whether a deal has been reached with Iran, instead ceding to the President to make any announcement.
He told reporters: “I — again, it’s always a mistake to get out ahead of the president. So, it is all going to be the president’s decision. I think that we — we can see that the president very clearly stated out — stated his three — the — open the Strait, highly enriched uranium, no nuclear program.”
Earlier reports suggested a deal had been agreed, pending approval from Donald Trump.
But Iranian state media has reported this is not the case.
Trump made time to visit with soldiers during recent trip to Walter Reed, just not any injured in Iran war: report
During a recent hospital visit, President Donald Trump took time to meet with U.S. service members — but he did not see any of the troops wounded in the ongoing Iran war, according to a new report.
The 79-year-old Republican president traveled to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Tuesday morning for his second check-up since October, claiming afterward that everything “checked out PERFECTLY.”
While inside the sprawling Bethesda facility, Trump met with service members, in keeping with a long-standing presidential tradition. However, 14 troops injured during Operation Epic Fury and recovering at the hospital were not among those he saw, according to a military official and the family of one soldier who spoke to CBS News.
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Trump visited soldiers at Walter Reed, just not any injured in Iran war: report
14 US troops wounded during the Iran war are currently recovering at the Maryland hospitalJames Reynolds
US patience over deal is 'not unlimited', Bessent warns
The United States’ patience with Iran to get a peace deal over the line is “not unlimited,” treasury secretary Scott Bessent has warned.
Speaking during a press conference, Mr Bessent said the Iranian government was “having trouble communicating”, according to Sky News.
“We are being patient, but we don’t have unlimited patience,” he said.
"President Trump always prefers a peace deal."
Oman won't join tolling in Strait, US treasury secretary says
Oman will not join Iran in enforcing tolls to control the Strait of Hormuz, the US treasury secretary has said.
When asked about President Trump’s comments he would “blow up” Oman if it didn’t agree to his demands, Scott Bessent said he spoke with the Omani ambassador to the US earlier today, adding that "he assured me that there were no plans for tolling", Sky News reports.
"I told him that this was a non-starter and he didn't want to risk the Omani individuals or Omani organisations being sanctioned," he added.
Agreement has yet to be finalised, Iranian media reports
The final text of the potential memorandum of understanding has yet to be finalised or confirmed, Iranian media has reported.
The Tasnim news agency cited a source close to the negotiating team, saying Western reports the agreement had been finalised are not true.
Israel strikes ancient castle in southern Lebanon
Israeli forces struck an ancient site in southern Lebanon this week, the country’s state media reported, as the IDF continued to intensify attacks despite the extension of a ceasefire.
The 900-year-old Beaufort Castle was hit by Israeli strikes on Tuesday, as its bombardment of southern Lebanon killed 31 people and wounded another 40 in the deadliest day since a ceasefire was supposed to take hold, state news agency NNA reported.
The fortress in southern Lebanon has been described by UNESCO as one of the best-preserved examples of medieval castles in the region.
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Israel strikes ancient site in southern Lebanon as Netanyahu intensifies bombardment
Beaufort Castle was built in the 12th century, and Israeli attacks have repeatedly targeted the surrounding areaNicole Wootton-CaneNewerOlder
