Negotiators push for 45-day truce by Trump deadline: Report

Iran remains reluctant to give up key leverage — such as reopening the Strait of Hormuz — for a temporary deal, insiders said.

By World Israel News Staff

Shortly ahead of a deadline set by President Donald Trump, negotiators from the United States, Iran, and several regional countries are making a last-minute effort to secure a temporary truce, according to a report by Axios.

The proposed deal would establish a 45-day ceasefire in an attempt to prevent a broader escalation of the war. However, sources familiar with the negotiations say the chances of reaching an agreement are negligible, even as talks intensify in the final hours.

The discussions are being conducted indirectly between the U.S. and Iran via mediators from countries including Turkey, Egypt, and Pakistan. Negotiators are working toward a two-phase framework: an immediate, temporary ceasefire lasting 45 days, during which there will be discussions aimed at finalizing a longer-term truce.

According to the report, U.S. officials have presented Iran with several proposals for a temporary ceasefire in recent days, but Tehran has so far declined to accept them. A Trump administration official told Axios that Iran has not agreed to any of the options put forward.

At the core of the negotiations are demands for so-called “confidence-building measures” from Iran, particularly regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the Islamic Republic’s enriched uranium.

Sources say Iran views both issues as critical leverage in negotiations. “These two issues are Iran’s main bargaining chips,” two people with insider knowledge of the talks said, adding that Tehran is unlikely to concede them in exchange for only a short-term ceasefire.

Iranian officials have also expressed concern about entering into a temporary agreement that could be violated. According to the sources, they do not want to face a situation similar to past ceasefires in Gaza or Lebanon, where hostilities resumed despite formal agreements.

Trump has warned that if no deal is reached, Iran’s critical civilian infrastructure — including power plants — could become targets. In response, Iran has threatened to retaliate by striking comparable sites in neighboring countries, including the Gulf states and Israel.

The White House declined to comment on the Axios report.