U.S. Vice President JD Vance, left, meets with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Islamabad, Pakistan, for talks about Iran. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)
Gulf states believe Iran is trying to build a nuclear weapon and are seeking a deal that would ban Tehran from enriching uranium.
By Vered Weiss, World Israel News
Middle East and European officials told Bloomberg that a ceasefire between Iran and the United States may take up to six months to reach, as leaders push both sides to extend their current truce to allow time for negotiations centered on the Strait of Hormuz.
Officials from the regions said efforts are underway to prolong the ceasefire to cover a negotiating window, with Washington and Tehran currently weighing a two-week extension of their truce, which ends Tuesday. Key issues remain unresolved.
Gulf states believe Iran is trying to build a nuclear weapon and are seeking a deal that would ban Tehran from enriching uranium or possessing long-range ballistic missiles.
The insistence on continuing uranium enrichment, which Iran says is for energy purposes, was a main reason talks last weekend in Islamabad fell apart, according to President Donald Trump.
According to Reuters, the United States has modified its demands for a comprehensive peace deal and is now pursuing a temporary memorandum aimed at preventing a return to conflict.
Iran, meanwhile, is reportedly seeking relief from some sanctions in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
The United Arab Emirates has also called for broader security guarantees. When the ceasefire was announced, the UAE foreign ministry emphasized the need for “a comprehensive and sustained approach that addresses Iran’s full range of threats, including its nuclear capabilities, ballistic missiles, drones, military capabilities, and affiliated proxies and terrorist groups, while ending threats to freedom of navigation, as well as economic warfare and piracy in the Strait of Hormuz.”
The Strait of Hormuz has emerged as a central issue in negotiations, with officials stressing that reopening the vital shipping route should be a core component of any agreement.
Economic pressures are mounting alongside diplomatic efforts. Brent crude has risen about 3.5% to more than $98 a barrel, with oil prices up 35% since the conflict began in late February. Gulf economies have been unable to export normal levels of oil, liquefied natural gas, aluminum and fertilizers.
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