The United States has not formally agreed to extend the ceasefire in Iran, an American official told The Jerusalem Post, after an Associated Press report said that mediators of the US-Iran peace talks are working to extend the two-week temporary ceasefire.
An American official told the Post that the US "has not formally agreed to an extension of the ceasefire," and that "there is continued engagement between the US and Iran to reach a deal."
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later confirmed to reporters that the US had not requested an extension to the ceasefire, but added that discussions about a second round of talks with the Iranians were ongoing and productive.
Iranian officials have also denied reports of the ceasefire extension. According to Iranian state media, Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson also asserted that reports of a ceasefire extension are unconfirmed.
In contrast, the AP reported that the mediators are getting close to securing an extension.
Axios additionally reported on Wednesday that US and Iranian negotiators are moving closer to establishing a framework for a comprehensive agreement to end the war. The progress was made on Tuesday, two US officials told Axios on Wednesday.
US President Donald Trump's negotiating team made calls and exchanged draft proposals with Iranian officials and mediators throughout Tuesday, Axios cited a US official as saying.
"They were on the phone and backchanneling with all the countries and they are getting closer," the official told Axios, with a second official confirming the progress.
Later, Iranian state media announced that a Pakistani delegation, led by Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, had arrived in Iran to deliver a message from the US regarding planning for a second round of ceasefire negotiations.
A senior Iranian source told Reuters that the delegation includes Pakistan's army chief and that they will arrive in Tehran soon in order to work to "narrow gaps between the US and Iran" and prevent the resumption of war.
Speaking at a White House press briefing, Leavitt said any fresh talks would likely be in Pakistan again, as it has emerged as the "only mediator" in the effort to end the US-Israeli war on Iran.
"These conversations are productive and ongoing, and that's where we are right now. I've also seen some reporting about the potentiality for in-person discussions. Again, those discussions are being had, but nothing is official until you hear it from us here at the White House, but we feel good about the prospects of a deal," Leavitt said.
Distrust between US, Iran can not be solved overnight
This comes after US Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday stated that there is a lot of distrust between the US and Iran that can not be resolved “overnight,” during a Turning Point USA event.
Vance also noted that, despite the trust issues, he feels "very good” about where the US is at the moment, and asserted that Iranian negotiators wanted to make a deal.
He also emphasized the significance of last weekend's talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, as a diplomatic step that “had never happened before.”
"We had never had a meeting like that where you have the person who’s effectively running the country in Iran, sitting across from the vice president of the United States," Vance stated.
Reuters contributed to this report.