White House officials said they have not heard of any plans to extend the ceasefire.

According to Politico, the one-month ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran will expire next Monday. If it fails to be extended, the nearly six-month-long war could re-escalate. White House officials said as of Friday afternoon, negotiations remain at a "standstill" with no word of an extension arrangement. "The timeline is not the key; the crux is whether Iran is willing to return to the negotiating table, which it has not done yet." Negotiations are difficult partly due to Iran's fragmented internal power structure: the Revolutionary Guards, religious forces, and the government hold differing stances, and all factions must approve an agreement for it to take effect. Disagreements center on sanctions, frozen assets, and access to the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. side said any form of toll or access control is "unacceptable." The Trump administration stated that if Iran rejects the agreement, the U.S. reserves "all options." Sanctions and blockades have severely damaged Iran's economy, and Iran should return to the negotiating table. However, sources familiar with the matter believe the U.S. may have underestimated Iran's resilience. To stabilize the situation before the midterm elections, the U.S. needs to act quickly. (Jinshi)