Media: US, Iran in last-minute talks over 45-day ceasefire

Negotiators from the United States, Iran and several regional countries are engaged in urgent talks aimed at securing a 45-day ceasefire that could pave the way for a broader agreement to end the conflict, officials familiar with the discussions say.

The effort, involving indirect contacts between Washington and Tehran, is seen as a final opportunity to avoid a significant escalation that could target critical infrastructure across the region, Caliber.Az reports via Axios.

Sources told media outlets that the chances of reaching even a temporary agreement within the next 48 hours remain low. However, the talks are continuing amid warnings that failure could trigger large-scale military action.

US President Donald Trump has set a deadline for Iran to agree to terms, recently extending it to Tuesday evening. He said negotiations were ongoing and expressed cautious optimism about a possible breakthrough.

"There is a good chance, but if they don't make a deal, I am blowing up everything over there," he said.

The talks are being conducted through intermediaries, including officials from Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey. Direct communication has also taken place via messages exchanged between US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Diplomatic sources say the proposal under discussion involves a two-phase approach. The first stage would establish a 45-day ceasefire, during which negotiations would continue toward a permanent settlement. The truce could be extended if required.

The second phase would focus on formally ending the war, including addressing key issues such as Iran’s nuclear programme and regional security concerns.

Central to the negotiations are two major points of contention: the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the future of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Mediators are reportedly exploring whether Iran might take limited, confidence-building steps on both issues during the initial ceasefire period.

Iranian officials have indicated reluctance to make significant concessions without firm guarantees that any ceasefire would lead to a lasting agreement. They have also voiced concerns about the risk of a temporary truce being broken.

At the same time, US officials are said to be considering measures that could reassure Tehran about the durability of any deal.

Despite these efforts, public statements from Iran suggest a hardening stance. A senior commander in the country’s naval forces said the situation in the Strait of Hormuz would “never return” to its previous state, particularly for the United States and Israel.

Diplomats involved in the talks warn that the consequences of failure could be severe. Plans for potential strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure are reportedly in place, while Iran has threatened retaliation targeting facilities in Israel and Gulf states.

By Aghakazim Guliyev