Trump reviews Iran ceasefire framework as Laos cave rescue continues

US President Donald Trump says he is convening talks before making a final decision on a proposed arrangement to prolong a ceasefire with Iran.

Trump said any understanding would have to include Iran committing that it will never obtain a nuclear weapon or bomb. He also said the Strait of Hormuz must be open again to unrestricted shipping in both directions, with mines in the waterway removed.

United States officials said Thursday that Washington and Tehran had settled on the outline of an agreement, but that it still needed approval from both Trump and Iran’s leadership. The reported proposal would keep the ceasefire in place for 60 more days and begin discussions on the future of Iran’s nuclear programme.

In Laos, rescue teams have freed the first of five men who were found alive after being trapped for more than a week inside a flooded cave.

The men had gone into the cavern to search for gold in a remote area of the country when flash floods on May 20 cut them off underground. Rescue divers located the five on Wednesday, finding them gathered together about 300 metres from the cave entrance.

Two other men remain missing.