US-Iran agreement deadlock; 60-day deadline passes without result

The 60-day deadline set for a comprehensive agreement between the United States and Iran, which began following the June ceasefire, has expired without any tangible results. Sources familiar with the negotiations told The New York Times that White House officials were aware the deadline would pass without an agreement, and that the confrontation has now devolved into a war of economic and military attrition. U.S. President Donald Trump had established the ceasefire in June with the goal of ending hostilities and curbing Iran's nuclear program. However, there are currently no signs of progress in negotiations, and tensions remain high over the control of the Strait of Hormuz and economic sanctions. Nate Swanson, an Iran expert at the Atlantic Council, argues that the initial memorandum was flawed and rushed, leading to its inevitable collapse. Meanwhile, Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, have stated that the 60-day deadline is no longer relevant, as the June agreement is effectively no longer in force. Iranian army commander Amir Hatami rejected Trump's rhetoric regarding control of the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that Iran would defend the waterway with all its strength. While Washington insists on the reopening of the strait and the end of the naval blockade, Tehran demands the release of frozen assets and the lifting of sanctions before any reciprocal action.