The US, Iran and a group of regional mediators are discussing the terms of a potential 45-day ceasefire that could lead to a permanent end to the war, Axios reported, citing US, Israeli and regional sources with knowledge of the talks.
The sources said the chances of reaching a partial agreement within the next 48 hours are slim, but this last desperate attempt is the only chance to prevent a sharp escalation of the war.
On Sunday, US President Donald Trump extended a deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz amid a series of threats. The new deadline is until Tuesday 8 p.m. ET.
Two of the publication’s sources said the operational plan for a large-scale US-Israeli bombing campaign against Iran’s energy facilities was ready, but emphasised that Trump’s extension of the deadline was aimed at giving a last chance to reach an agreement.
Axios writes that four sources with knowledge of the diplomatic effort said the talks were taking place through Pakistani, Egyptian and Turkish mediators, as well as text messages between Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.
The U.S. official said the Trump administration has provided Iran with several proposals in recent days but Iranian officials have not yet accepted them.
The sources said mediators are discussing with the sides the terms of a two-phase agreement;the first phase involves a potential 45-day ceasefire, during which a permanent end to the war would be reached. The ceasefire could be extended if more time is needed for negotiations.
The second phase involves an agreement to end the war.
Sources said the mediators believe that the full opening of the Strait of Hormuz and a solution to Iran’s highly enriched uranium – either by taking it out of the country or divesting it – can only be the result of a final agreement.
According to the publication, the mediators want to see if Iran can take private steps on both issues in the first phase of the agreement. They are also working on steps the Trump administration could take to give Iran assurances that the cease-fire would not be temporary and that the war would not resume.
Iranian officials have made it clear to the mediators that they do not want to end up in a situation with Gaza or Lebanon, where there is a ceasefire on paper but the US and Israel can attack again whenever they want, Axios writes.
One of the publication’s sources said the mediators are very concerned that an Iranian response to a US-Israeli strike on the country’s energy infrastructure would be devastating to Gulf oil and water facilities.
The White House declined to comment.
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal on 5 April, Trump said Iran must open the Strait of Hormuz within two days or “they will lose every power plant and every other power plant they have across the country”.
The joint United States-Israeli operation against Iran, which began on 28 February, resulted in the death of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a significant number of other senior Iranian regime officials.
In response, Iran’s military has attacked not only Israel or US military installations in the region with missiles and drones, but also many of its regional neighbours, which Tehran considers allies of the United States.
Iran has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf to the world’s oceans. The Strait is of strategic importance because it is the route through which oil from the oil-producing countries of the Persian Gulf flows to the world market.