\r\n [Financial News] United States Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said on the 28th local time that the United States and Iran are close to an agreement to end the 39-day war. However, final approval from President of the United States Donald Trump has not yet been given, and the White House is reportedly demanding firm guarantees that key conditions will be met. According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Bessent met with reporters at the White House in Washington, D.C. on the day and said the two countries were nearing an agreement to end the war. He added, "We are exchanging proposals and building the framework for negotiations," and emphasized, "Everything depends on the president's decision, and President Trump will never make a 'bad deal.'" According to a United States government official, the proposed deal is a first-phase framework with a total term of 60 days. Its core provision is for both sides to lift their mutual blockades in the Strait of Hormuz within the first 30 days. Axios had previously reported similar details of the agreement. The three key conditions set by the United States are clear. Iran must dispose of all highly enriched uranium, pledge not to develop nuclear weapons in the future, and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil shipments. If the short-term agreement is finalized, the two countries will continue negotiations for at least two more months. The United States hopes to use this process to complete a broader framework that would strictly limit Iran's nuclear program for decades. However, this could also force the Trump administration to revise or scale back some of the war goals it had previously announced. Iran, meanwhile, says no final agreement has yet been completed. According to Iran's Tasnim News Agency, Iranian officials said that if a deal is reached, they will make an official announcement through Pakistan, one of the main mediators in the talks. Iran is currently demanding the unfreezing of assets blocked overseas by United States sanctions, as well as continued control over vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, including the authority to collect transit fees. It is also insisting that a permanent ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel in Lebanon be included in the terms of the deal. Iran's leadership is especially worried that President Trump could scrap the deal at the last minute under Israeli influence. In fact, at a Cabinet meeting on the 27th, Trump pressured Saudi Arabia and other Arab states, saying there would be no deal with Iran unless they joined the Abraham Accords, the diplomatic agreements to normalize ties with Israel. With the November midterm elections approaching, he also struck a relaxed tone, saying, "There is no need to rush an agreement." This latest push for an agreement comes after 39 days of intense armed conflict. The United States and Iran have been negotiating while maintaining a fragile ceasefire since early April, but tensions remain at a peak after two rounds of clashes this week. In particular, an incident on the 28th in which an Iranian ballistic missile fired toward Kuwait was intercepted showed that the path to peace will not be easy. United States pressure is continuing even as the agreement process moves forward. Bessent said he would maintain the so-called "economic pressure" regime against Iran and announced additional sanctions on Iranian entities with control over the Strait of Hormuz. He also warned that third countries, including Oman, which help collect transit fees, could also face sanctions. Skepticism remains strong among experts and former officials that a final nuclear deal will be reached. They point out that it is unclear whether Iran will reduce its nuclear program to the level the White House wants. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors are currently being denied access to Iran's main nuclear facilities. Iran's complex decision-making structure is another obstacle. United States intelligence agencies believe that Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's ultimate decision-maker, is currently in hiding at an undisclosed location, making communication with senior officials difficult and potentially delaying final approval. Meanwhile, the agreement document is also said to include an end to the war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, has said he intends to continue the war, but Trump expressed confidence that the deal would go through, saying, "Netanyahu will do what the White House tells him to do." jjyoon@fnnews.com Yoon Jae-jun Reporter