According to an Associated Press report on May 28, diplomatic contacts between the United States and Iran regarding an extension of the ceasefire and the resumption of nuclear talks are showing new signs of progress. Multiple informed U.S. officials revealed that American and Iranian negotiators have preliminarily reached a memorandum of understanding, planning to extend the current ceasefire agreement by another 60 days, while simultaneously launching a new round of negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program. However, Trump has not yet formally approved the proposal, and Iran has not immediately confirmed it publicly.
New hope for the ceasefire agreement
According to Axios, which first disclosed the information, this draft agreement—still unsigned—is seen as an important signal of de-escalation in the Middle East. U.S. officials involved in the communication said that both sides have reached a general consensus on the framework of the deal, but it cannot be considered a real agreement until Trump gives final approval.
The roughly three-month-long U.S.–Iran confrontation has remained fragile since the ceasefire began in April. Just one day before the news emerged, tensions in the Persian Gulf escalated again. Kuwait’s military said its air defense systems intercepted missiles and drones launched from the Iranian direction. The U.S. Central Command described the incident as a “serious violation of the ceasefire.”
Iran later acknowledged carrying out retaliatory action against U.S. forces near Bandar Abbas, but did not clearly state whether it targeted facilities inside Kuwait. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said through the state news agency IRNA that its target was an airbase that had launched attacks.
Continued tensions in the Persian Gulf
Meanwhile, the U.S. military has continued operations. U.S. officials said American forces shot down four Iranian one-way attack drones near the Strait of Hormuz and destroyed a ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was preparing to launch a fifth drone, The Hill reported.
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The Wall Street Journal analyzed that the U.S. and Iran have effectively entered a cycle of “limited strikes” and a “cycle of conflicts:” neither side wants a full-scale war, but both continue using military pressure to gain leverage in talks.
The Trump administration has emphasized that one of its core goals is to ensure stability and open access to the Strait of Hormuz. The strait handles roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments, and any deterioration in the situation would directly impact global energy markets. Recent sharp increases in oil prices have also fueled growing domestic dissatisfaction with the prospect of war in the United States.
The Financial Times noted that Washington is also trying to force Iran to give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium as an important condition for any future agreement.
Tehran seeks sanctions relief
For Iran, the lifting of economic sanctions remains the most critical demand. Tehran hopes the United States will release frozen assets and ease financial restrictions to relieve its long-strained economy.
In addition, Iran insists that any long-term agreement must include Israel halting military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Although a ceasefire brokered with U.S. mediation between Israel and Lebanon took effect in mid-April, the situation has recently deteriorated significantly.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned this week that Israel would further expand its strikes against Hezbollah, PBS reported. Previously, Hezbollah launched fiber-optic explosive drone attacks against Israeli forces, affecting towns along Israel’s northern border.
On the 28th, the Israeli military again carried out airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut and the southern port city of Tyre. According to Lebanon’s health authorities, at least 14 people were killed in the south that day.
