US and Iran extend ceasefire by 60 days

Washington and Tehran have reached an agreement to extend their temporary ceasefire by another 60 days, just before the current truce was set to expire on August 17, 2026. According to the Anadolu Agency, both parties have formally conveyed their acceptance of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding to international mediators.

Sources within Pakistan's government, which has played a key role in mediating the negotiations, indicated that diplomats are actively exchanging notes to finalize the terms of the extended truce. The new phase of the ceasefire is preliminarily set for 60 days.

The initial agreement to suspend hostilities was brokered by Islamabad in April 2026. This was followed by the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum in June 2026, intended as a step towards a final peace treaty. However, the path to a comprehensive peace agreement has been complicated by significant disagreements concerning the restoration of sovereignty and the freedom of navigation through the vital Strait of Hormuz.

Despite localized exchanges of fire in July 2026, both the U.S. and Iran have expressed a commitment to maintaining diplomatic channels. They plan to continue discussions on the 14 points of the peace deal on neutral ground in Switzerland, signaling a continued, albeit slow, diplomatic process.