Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday that a deal with the U.S. is "closer than ever," marking what Axios described as Tehran's strongest public indication that it may be prepared to accept a U.S.-backed framework for extending the ceasefire and beginning broader negotiations.

Araghchi said speculation about the talks should be avoided until an agreement is finalized and added that details would be released once a deal is completed, Axios reported.

The comments came a day after President Donald Trump said he canceled military strikes on Iran because negotiations had advanced and a potential agreement was within reach.

Axios reported that U.S. and Iranian negotiators are working toward a memorandum of understanding that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping, extend the ceasefire by 60 days, and establish a framework for talks over Iran's nuclear program.

According to Axios, the draft agreement would provide phased sanctions relief for Iran while leaving the most difficult nuclear issues to follow-on negotiations during the 60-day period.

Wires quoted the minister as saying nuclear talks with the U.S. would take ‌place at a ​later stage and would not proceed unless ⁠a proposed interim deal ​was implemented.

He reportedly ⁠said the interim deal would include reopening the Strait of Hormuz ‌and ending ​conflicts on multiple ‌fronts, adding that a memorandum of ‌understanding had not yet been signed and could still change.

Still being worked out

One of the central unresolved issues remains Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

Trump has said that only the U.S. and China have the capability to remove Iran's enriched uranium and indicated the material must ultimately be disposed of as part of any lasting agreement, according to a report published by Newsmax.

"We're not going to allow them to keep enriched uranium," Trump said, arguing that Tehran's nuclear material must be eliminated to ensure Iran cannot develop a nuclear weapon.

Reuters reported Friday that the proposed agreement would require Iran to dismantle key elements of its nuclear program, surrender ,or destroy its highly enriched uranium and submit to a long-term inspection regime.

A senior U.S. official told Reuters that sanctions relief would be tied directly to Iranian compliance with the agreement.

Vice President JD Vance said there would be no release of frozen Iranian assets unless Tehran first fulfills its obligations under the deal, Reuters reported.

Trump on Friday also rejected Iranian accounts of the negotiations, saying Tehran's public description of the proposed agreement was inaccurate.

"Their version of the deal is not the deal," Trump said, according to Reuters.

Trump added that any economic benefits provided to Iran would be strictly conditioned on verified compliance with the agreement, Reuters reported.

Reuters reported that Iranian officials have portrayed the draft agreement as requiring relatively few concessions from Tehran, while U.S. officials insist the framework would achieve Trump's central objective of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

A senior U.S. official told Reuters that the two sides are close to an agreement and that a signing ceremony could take place within days if the remaining issues are resolved.

Axios reported that Pakistan and Qatar have served as key mediators in the negotiations, which are aimed at ending the three-month conflict, restoring shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and creating a pathway toward a broader settlement.

If finalized, the agreement would represent the most significant diplomatic breakthrough between Washington and Tehran since the conflict began, according to Axios.