Ceasefire may be extended with a restart to negotiations possible, official says

The possibility of extending the ceasefire before it expires next week is becoming more likely. 

Officials in the region said they are making progress toward restarting negotiations, and the U.S. and Iran have a tentative agreement to extend the ceasefire to allow that to happen, the Associated Press reported, citing an unnamed source. 

The U.S. blockade on ships leaving Iranian ports has threatened the ceasefire agreement, and while a formal agreement hasn't been finalized, the U.S. is continuing to engage with Iran on an extension. 

A senior Iranian official has threatened a complete block on exports and imports into the Persian Gulf region, if the U.S. blockade continues.