US and Iran negotiators reach preliminary deal to extend ceasefire by 60 days

US and Iranian negotiators have reached a preliminary agreement to extend a ceasefire by 60 days and begin talks on Iran's nuclear programme. The deal was confirmed by a US official familiar with the matter.

US and Iranian negotiators have reached a preliminary agreement to extend an existing ceasefire by 60 days, a development that could open the door to broader diplomatic engagement, according to a US official with direct knowledge of the talks.

Under the preliminary deal, the two sides have also agreed to begin formal discussions on Iran's nuclear programme — a long-standing point of contention between Washington and Tehran that has repeatedly strained international efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation in the Middle East.

The agreement, while described as preliminary, marks a notable step in diplomatic contacts between the two countries. No further details were immediately available about the venue, timeline, or format of the upcoming nuclear talks.