Khaberni - The United States, Iran, and a group of regional mediators are discussing terms for a potential 45-day ceasefire, which could pave the way for a permanent end to the war, according to four American, Israeli, and regional sources familiar with the talks with the Axios website.
The sources said that the chance of reaching a partial agreement within the next 48 hours is "slim," yet this last effort is the only opportunity to prevent a major escalation that could include extensive strikes on civilian infrastructure in Iran and a retaliatory response targeting energy and water facilities in Gulf countries.
President Donald Trump extended, on Sunday, the deadline he had given Iran to reach an agreement, setting Tuesday at 8 PM Eastern Time as a new final deadline, after the original deadline was supposed to end on Monday evening.
Trump told the Axios website on Sunday that the United States is "deeply engaged in negotiations" with Iran, and that an agreement could be reached before the deadline on Tuesday.
He added, "There is a good chance, but if they do not strike a deal, I will destroy everything there." Trump had previously threatened to destroy vital civilian infrastructure in Iran if an agreement with the regime is not reached.
In response, Iran warned that any such attack would be met with a response targeting infrastructure in Israel and the Gulf countries, amid fears that such strikes could amount to war crimes.
Two sources said that the operational plan for a widespread American-Israeli bombing campaign against Iranian energy facilities is "ready for execution", but they stressed that extending the deadline aims to provide a last chance for reaching an agreement.
Four sources familiar with the diplomatic efforts reported that negotiations are being conducted through mediators from Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey, in addition to text message exchanges between Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
An American official said that the Trump administration has offered Iran several proposals in recent days, but that Iranian officials have not accepted them so far.
According to sources, a two-phase agreement is being discussed. The first phase includes a ceasefire for 45 days during which negotiations for a permanent end to the war will take place, with the possibility of extending the truce if negotiations require more time, while the second phase involves reaching a final agreement to end the war.
The mediators believe that two issues, the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and dealing with Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium, whether by removing it from the country or reducing its enrichment levels, can only be resolved within a final agreement.
The mediation efforts are formulating confidence-building measures, including partial steps from the Iranian side regarding the strait and uranium, in exchange for American guarantees of not resuming military operations after the ceasefire.
Iranian officials have confirmed to the mediators their refusal to accept arrangements similar to previous experiences in Gaza or Lebanon, where ceasefires were achieved without guarantees to prevent resumption of attacks.
In turn, the mediators are seeking to formulate additional steps by the United States that respond to some of Iran's demands and enhance the chances of cementing the calm.
The White House declined to comment on the progress of the negotiations.
The mediators warn that any Iranian response to possible strikes targeting energy facilities could cause significant damage to the oil and water infrastructure in the Gulf countries, exacerbating the regional and international repercussions of the crisis.
They assured Iranian officials that the next 48 hours represent "the last opportunity" to reach an agreement, emphasizing that there is no time for further negotiation maneuvers.
In contrast, Iran continues to adopt a hardline stance in its public positions, refusing to make concessions, while the Navy of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard stated that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz "will not return to what it was before the war," especially for the United States and Israel.
