The United States, Iran and a group of regional mediators are engaged in talks over a proposed 45-day ceasefire that could open a pathway to a permanent end to the ongoing West Asia conflict, according to a report by Axios citing four US, Israeli and regional sources familiar with the negotiations.
The report said the discussions are centred on a two-phase framework, with the first phase involving a temporary ceasefire during which broader negotiations would take place to end the war.
While diplomats see the effort as a critical opening, sources cautioned that the likelihood of securing even a partial agreement in the next 48 hours remains low.
Deadline diplomacy and threat of escalation
The urgency around the talks has intensified following an extended deadline set by Donald Trump. The U.S. president, who had initially given Iran a 10-day window, pushed the cutoff to Tuesday evening, signalling what he described as ongoing “deep negotiations.”
According to the report, contingency plans for a large-scale U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign on Iran’s energy facilities are already in place. Sources indicated that the decision to extend the deadline was intended to give diplomacy one final opportunity before potential escalation.
Iran, for its part, has warned that any attacks on civilian infrastructure would be met with retaliatory strikes on key facilities in Israel and Gulf countries, heightening fears of a broader regional fallout.
Read More: Iran snubs US’ 48-hour ceasefire proposal as war tensions mount: Report
