60-Day Deadline Expires: US-Iran Agreement Stalls as Conflict Shifts

The 60-day deadline established for an understanding between the United States and Iran has expired without a deal to end hostilities or resolve nuclear concerns. According to a report by The New York Times, while direct US strikes on Iranian targets have subsided since late July, tensions over the Strait of Hormuz and economic sanctions persist. Both sides appear locked in a war of attrition, with each waiting for the other to succumb to economic pressure. Iran demands the release of frozen assets, while the US insists on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for free maritime passage. Ali Vaez, an Iran expert at the International Crisis Group, stated that neither side is currently prepared to finalize an agreement, as both believe time will make the other more desperate. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the 60-day framework is no longer relevant, noting there was no ceasefire to extend. Separately, Donald Trump suggested during a New York event that he would declare the Strait of Hormuz as US territory. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi responded by dismissing the claim, asserting that the Strait remains Iranian.