US and Iran agree to extend 60-day ceasefire as deadline approaches

The United States and Iran have agreed to extend a 60-day ceasefire under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding as the agreement nears expiration on August 17, 2026, according to Pakistani government sources. Both sides have conveyed their consent to mediators, though negotiations continue over the length of the extension period. Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited Tehran on August 11–12 to facilitate discussions with Iranian officials as part of ongoing mediation efforts.

The ceasefire, brokered by Pakistan in April and formalized through a memorandum of understanding signed on June 17, has faced significant strain. Negotiations have stalled over disagreements on security guarantees and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route. Between July 8 and July 24, the US and Iran exchanged military strikes, with Washington attacking targets inside Iran and Tehran responding by striking US military facilities and equipment in Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait.

Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif told Bloomberg on August 11 that the two sides are "close to some sort of an arrangement," noting that diplomatic signals in recent days suggest progress toward a peace deal. He stated that a lasting peace between the US and Iran would benefit all Middle Eastern countries. Pakistan's Foreign Office reiterated on August 12 that it remains engaged with both nations through direct and indirect channels to advance dialogue and resolve outstanding issues.

Iran has tied any agreement to specific conditions. Mohsen Rezaei, Iran's newly appointed secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, stated that reopening the Strait of Hormuz depends on the US ending the war, unfreezing Iran's blocked assets, and agreeing to a ceasefire across the region, including Lebanon and Gaza. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has rejected direct negotiations, though he confirmed that message exchanges continue through mediators.

President Trump has maintained a dual-track approach, claiming US forces are in "total control" of the Strait of Hormuz while simultaneously indicating willingness to reach a deal. On August 2, he announced he had agreed to cancel planned major strikes against Iran to pursue an agreement. Trump has also stated that Iran must compensate for damages from past attacks. The situation remains fragile, with both sides exchanging messages to determine extension terms as regional actors express concern over prolonged instability.