The United States will not seek to extend a temporary agreement with Iran that gave the two countries 60 days to negotiate a broader deal, President Donald Trump said Monday.
The memorandum of understanding, signed on June 17, called for a cessation of all military operations while the sides pursued a wider agreement covering Iran's nuclear program and US sanctions. The 60-day window is set to expire Monday. Trump said in July that he considered the document non-binding, and on Monday he expressed doubt that Iran was willing to accept terms he deemed necessary.
Despite the ceasefire provision, both countries carried out attacks during the period. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei called the deadline "irrelevant," saying negotiations never began. A central point of contention has been the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil trade.