US-Iran Negotiations Launch 60-Day Period, August 17 Deadline Set

Vice President JD Vance announced on June 19 that the 60-day negotiation period for a final U.S.-Iran agreement has officially begun, with the deadline set for August 17, 2026. Speaking at a White House press conference, Vance confirmed the timeline despite the agreement being signed late, noting that when accounting for time zone differences, the period technically commenced on June 19 Iran time.

The Trump administration signed a preliminary memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iran's leadership earlier this week, establishing groundwork for a comprehensive agreement. However, Reuters noted that critical issues including Iran's nuclear program, sanctions relief, and security arrangements remain unresolved and will be addressed in subsequent negotiations.