Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that negotiations between the United States and Iran have advanced significantly, though key disputes remain unresolved and no final agreement has yet been approved by President Donald Trump.

Speaking to reporters, Vance indicated that both sides continue to work through outstanding issues related to a proposed memorandum of understanding.

“It’s hard to say when or if the President is going to sign the MOU. We’re going back and forth on a couple of language points. I do think we’ve made a lot of progress here. It’s very clear, I think, the Iranians want a deal and they want to open the Strait of Hormuz. We want them to open the Strait of Hormuz,” Vance said.

He noted that the most difficult discussions continue to revolve around Iran’s nuclear program, particularly its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and future enrichment activities.

“There are a couple of issues on the nuclear stuff and the highly enriched stockpile, the question of enrichment,” he continued. “So we’re going back and forth with them. We do think they’re negotiating, at least so far, in good faith and we’re making some progress.”

Vance expressed cautious optimism that additional progress could pave the way for presidential approval, while stressing that no final decision has yet been made.

“Hopefully, we’ll continue to make progress and the President will be in a position where he can endorse the agreement, but obviously, that’s still TBD.”

His remarks followed confirmation from White House officials that American and Iranian representatives have tentatively agreed to a 60-day memorandum designed to extend the ceasefire and launch formal talks over Iran’s nuclear activities.

Sources familiar with the mediation effort told Axios that although negotiators have reached a preliminary understanding, Trump has not yet signed off on the proposal. Two U.S. officials and a regional intermediary involved in the talks said final approval remains pending.

According to Axios, the proposed framework would represent one of the most significant diplomatic developments since the conflict began, although major issues would still need to be negotiated before a comprehensive agreement could be finalized.

One key provision would guarantee uninterrupted passage through the Strait of Hormuz. A U.S. official said Iran would be barred from imposing fees or interfering with commercial traffic and would be required to clear all naval mines from the strategic waterway within 30 days.

The proposal also envisions a gradual rollback of the American naval blockade as commercial maritime activity resumes.

Officials said the memorandum would include a formal Iranian pledge not to pursue nuclear weapons. During the initial 60-day period, negotiators would concentrate primarily on the future of Iran’s highly enriched uranium reserves and the broader question of uranium enrichment.

The report said Washington would also be prepared to discuss easing sanctions and releasing frozen Iranian assets as part of the talks. Additional discussions would focus on creating channels through which Iran could obtain goods and humanitarian aid.

Trump, meanwhile, signaled during a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday that he remains unconvinced by the current state of the negotiations and expects more concessions from Tehran before any agreement is finalized.

“They want very much to make a deal. So far, they haven’t gotten there,” Trump said, adding, “We’re not satisfied with it, but we will be. We will be either that, or we’ll have to just finish the job.”

Even while voicing frustration with the pace of progress, Trump suggested that the negotiations are moving in a positive direction and indicated that Iran may be beginning to yield on issues the administration considers essential.

He said he believes “the Iranian regime is starting to give us the things that they have to give us.”