The United States and Iran are engaged in discussions over the possibility of a temporary ceasefire, Axios reports, citing sources familiar with the talks.

According to the outlet, regional intermediaries are also involved in the consultations. The focus is on drafting terms for a 45-day halt in hostilities — a pause that negotiators hope could open a path toward ending the conflict altogether. Still, sources caution that the chances of reaching an agreement within the next 48 hours remain low. Even so, this scenario is seen as a critical opportunity to prevent further escalation, which could otherwise trigger large-scale strikes on Iran’s civilian infrastructure and retaliatory attacks on energy and water facilities across the Persian Gulf.

Axios notes that mediators from Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey are working to push both sides toward confidence-building steps. Among the proposals under discussion are potential moves by Tehran related to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, as well as aspects of its nuclear program.

At the same time, efforts are underway to determine what actions the administration of U. S. President Donald Trump could take to provide Iran with assurances that any ceasefire would not be short-lived and that hostilities would not resume.

Earlier, Trump told Axios he believed the chances of reaching a deal with Iran by April 7 were high. In a post on Truth Social, he also warned of possible strikes on energy and civilian infrastructure if Tehran failed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by April 6. He later extended the deadline for reaching an agreement by an additional day — until 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on April 7 (03:00 Moscow time on April 8).