Report: US, Iran moving toward ‘framework agreement’ for deal to end war, as US officials say blockade is working

The US and Iran are moving closer to a “framework agreement” that could end the ongoing war, Axios reports, citing two US officials.

Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt have been trying to mediate a return to talks before the 14-day ceasefire ends next week.

According to the report, Trump’s senior negotiating team of US Vice President JD Vance and his top Middle East envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have been speaking by phone with Iran and the mediators, and have been exchanging draft proposals for a deal.

“They were on the phone and backchanneling with all the countries, and they are getting closer,” says one US official.

“We want to make a deal,” says a third official. “And parts of their government want to make a deal. Now the trick is to get the whole of government over there to make the deal.”

Officials tell the US outlet that US President Donald Trump’s blockade of Iranian ports is putting pressure on Iran. “Iran has no money. They’re broke. We know it. And they know we know it,” says an American official.

“What does it say if Iran, a country the world knows for its oil, can’t produce oil?” says an official. “It’s going to be worse than Venezuela under Maduro.”

If a framework deal is reached, the ceasefire would likely be extended to allow for talks to continue, according to the report.

“The details are complicated — you can’t do that in two days,” says a US official.

“The US has not formally agreed to an extension of the ceasefire. There is continued engagement between the US and Iran to reach a deal,” says another official.