The United States on Friday signalled that it may be inching towards a diplomatic breakthrough with Iran amid efforts to de-escalate tensions in West Asia, with US Vice President JD Vance saying Washington was “very close” to reaching a final agreement with Tehran.Speaking at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Vance said substantial progress had already been achieved, including efforts aimed at reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz and significantly weakening Iran’s military and nuclear capabilities.“If you look at what we’ve already accomplished here, assuming that we’re able to get to a final agreement here, we’re reopening the Strait of Hormuz, we’ve already decimated their conventional military, and we’re in a position where we could substantially set back their nuclear programme, not just during the term of this President, but over the long term,” Vance said.“That’s a very, very good thing for the American people. So, we’re not there yet, but we’re very close. We’re going to keep on working at it,” he added.The remarks come amid continuing indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran over a possible memorandum of understanding aimed at extending a ceasefire and opening the door for broader talks on Iran’s nuclear programme.The Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most critical oil shipping lanes — has remained at the centre of international concern since the outbreak of hostilities, with fears of disruption triggering volatility in global energy markets and raising concerns over global supply chains.Adding to indications of possible movement in talks, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said Iran had put a “complete reopening of the strait” on the table during negotiations with the US.“Now Iran is putting on the table a complete reopening of the strait as has been discussed and many other concessions that are going to be unveiled in the time to come,” Miller said in an interview with Fox News.At the same time, he cautioned that no agreement had yet been finalised.“But again, there’s no deal until there’s a deal, nothing’s final until it’s final and President Trump’s been clear that he reserves the option now or at any time in the future to do whatever is necessary to defend and protect America’s national security,” Miller added.According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, a draft one-page US-Iran memorandum of understanding proposes a roughly 30-day negotiating framework focused on de-escalation measures.The proposed framework reportedly includes restoring the Strait of Hormuz to pre-conflict commercial shipping levels through measures such as clearing mines and ending maritime harassment, alongside a phased easing of certain US restrictions on Iranian ports.The report said the draft understanding also envisages discussions on Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpiles and broader nuclear issues in a second phase, though critical questions relating to enrichment limits, timelines and uranium handling remain unresolved.Sanctions relief, according to the report, would be gradual and linked to progress in negotiations, with limited early access to some frozen Iranian assets, including funds held in Qatar.While neither Washington nor Tehran has formally announced a breakthrough, recent statements from US officials increasingly suggest that both sides may be exploring an interim arrangement aimed at preventing further escalation and reviving structured diplomacy.Iran, however, has continued to adopt a cautious public posture, maintaining that significant differences still remain unresolved.