US, Iran and mediators discuss terms for a 45-day ceasefire

[Twiglets1]

As reported by Axios, the U.S., Iran and a group of regional mediators are discussing the terms for a potential 45-day ceasefire that could lead to a permanent end to the war, according to four U.S., Israeli and regional sources with knowledge of the talks.

Four sources with knowledge of the diplomatic efforts said the negotiations are taking place through Pakistani, Egyptian and Turkish mediators and also through text messages sent between Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

• A U.S. official said the Trump administration gave Iran several proposals in recent days, but so far Iranian officials hadn't accepted them.
• The sources said the mediators are discussing with the parties the terms for two-phased deal; the first phase would a potential 45-day ceasefire during which a permanent end to the war would be negotiated.
• The ceasefire could be extended if more time were needed for talks, one of the sources said.
• The second phase would be an agreement on ending the war.
• The sources said mediators think that fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz and a solution for Iran's highly enriched Uranium — either through its removal from the country or dilution — could only be a result of a final deal.
• These two issues are Iran's main bargaining chips in the negotiations and the Iranians will not agree to fully give up on them for only 45 days of ceasefire, two of the sources said.
• The mediators want to see whether Iran could take partial step on both issues in the first phase of the deal. They are also working on steps the Trump administration could take to give Iran guarantees that the ceasefire will not be temporary and that the war will not resume.

www.axios.com/2026/04/06/iran-war-us-tehran-ceasefire-talks

The recent war was started by the US and Israel.

Iran were criticised for their attacks on the UAE and Kuwait.

You have seen what Israel is doing to Lebanon, so many killed, wounded and displaced and the destruction of town and cities

Of course both as bad as each other but one is killing innocent Lebanese who are neither Israeli nor Hezbollah and have zero control over what either side do.

Your quote shows both sides are liars
Even as the truce began at midnight local time, Hezbollah continued to fire rockets into northern Israel while Israeli shelling is said to have continued for half an hour afterwards

Edited to add I don't think Hezbollah are part of the ceasefire negotiations and I don't think Lebanon were ever part of the firing so it's unclear how any of this will work

There was a thread made on the Iranian attack of a desalination plant in Kuwait made by @Ihatetomatoes - you may remember it.

No condemnation of Iran for doing that from the pro Palestinian MNs, only from those of us called pro Israel. The general feeling seemed to be that as Bahrain and Kuwait have US military infrastructure, they are "involved" in the war.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/conflict-in-the-middle-east/5512046-iranian-attack-hit-water-desalination-plant-in-kuwait?page=3

Yes my quote showed that both sides were guilty of doing what you described as a "cynical move" which was firing right up to the ceasefire (and slightly beyond in Israel's case). Yet you only blamed Israel for firing right up to the ceasefire and not Hezbollah, which proves my point about how one-sided many posters are on the subject of Israel.

Hezbollah are part of the ceasefire negotiations by the way.

Hezbollah has also signalled a willingness to participate in the ceasefire but said it must include "a comprehensive halt to attacks" across Lebanon and "no freedom of movement for Israeli forces".

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy32277e58o

I remember it and know that what you are saying is untrue. And by calling people 'pro Palestine' you make your views clear.

Also @Boolabus you say that only one side is killing innocent Lebanese which is true.

But it's also true that only one side is killing (or at least attempting to kill) Israeli civilians. Don't they count as "innocent" too? Israeli lives matter too.

It is repeated so often, the ability to ignore some things when Iran, Hezbollah do them etc and focus obsessively on other things.... if Israel. There are many injustices.

I tend to fine myself stepping away more from the threads.

Hoping for a permanent ceasefire and much better governance all around without terrorist involvement.

Ok find where in the thread about the Kuwait desalination plant that anyone who is not on the "pro Israel" side expresses condemnation of Iran because I read the first few pages and there was none, including from you.

Not to defend striking civilian infrastructure as I think it is immoral to threaten civilian water supplies, but of course Bahrain and Kuwait are involved?

Whilst missiles may not have been fired from Bahrain and Kuwait, both countries are being used as key logistic and strategic points by the USA in this illegal war against Iran.

If a neighbour on your street was hosting the person who was chucking molotov cocktails at your house would you not also hold your neighbour responsible for the damage their guest has done? They'd be an accessory to the crime. Of course they're bloody involved!

There is no point in doing that as you will just accuse me of supporting Iran.

And I have not called you 'pro Israel', I queried why your criticism always comes with a 'but'.

Iran has just announced that the Strait of Hormuz is now open.

@Twiglets1 agree re not satisfying enough i really appreciate the more reasoned balance on these threads where we can try and make sense of what's going on without that constant pressure to say how much we hate trump .

Re Iran ot looks to me like all those years of negotiation have simply led to 60 enriched uranium and a huge arsenal of weapons

Israeli lives matter too.
I think it's best not to dilute the specific phrase of black lives matter which was created to focus on the unique, systemic violence faced by Black people in the US.

Anyway I never said Israeli civilians didn't matter why would I think that? l focused on the Lebanese in this situation because they are neither Hezbollah nor Israel and have a far higher death toll so are at far greater risk if a ceasefire doesn't hold so we would consider them less safe in the current conflict.

What the fuck? Sorry if you don't like me saying Israeli lives matter too but you know what? Israeli lives matter too.

Israeli civilians are just as innocent as the civilians of Lebanon or any other country and it feels good to acknowledge this for once as the focus is not very often on them.

How will you finding an example where you have criticised Iran make me accuse you of supporting Iran? Makes no sense.

Don't know why you think it's an insult to be called "pro Israel" or "pro Palestinian". Everyone knows what is meant by that and it doesn't mean you don't care at all about the other side, it's just the side you mainly empathise with and defend in these discussions.

Happy to hear that the Straight of Hormuz is now open. Things looking more promising now for the ceasefire holding in both Iran and Lebanon.

Hmmm right over your head there, oh well

How condescending, oh well.

I didn't say it was an insult The pro thing is childish imo and does not aid the discussion

I don't need to defend myself for you to accept that I have criticised Iran and do not support the regime.

But you already know that, we have argued about that before.

Trump rules out releasing frozen Iranian funds

Donald Trump has ruled out reports his administration would release frozen Iranian funds in exchange for non-nuclear proliferation.

The US president insisted that Iran had agreed to suspend its nuclear programme indefinitely without any promise of the release of its assets.

He said talks to finalise a “mostly complete” agreement would “probably” take place over the weekend, according to Bloomberg.

He also that his administration will work with Iran to recover its enriched uranium and bring it back to the United States. He said the process would be undertaken “at a nice leisurely pace” as part of an agreement with the Islamic Republic.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/17/iran-war-latest-news-trump-israel-lebanon-ceasefire/

Iran will still charge toll

Thanks Trump

Who to? Can't see any sources saying that.

Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent for the Wall Street Journal:

All this death, destruction, international friction and so on, for something that should never have happened in the first place, but Trump.....

And now as a result, there needs to be Peace/Truce/Ceasefire talks about something that could have been avoided.

I am more than mad at all this unnecessary posturing that has resulted from an egomaniac and his administration. I know I am not alone in thinking this.

Thank you for the source.

I like your analogy and it rings true.
"Article 3 of UN General Assembly Resolution 3314 (1974) enumerates specific acts that qualify as armed aggression, regardless of a declaration of war, including invasion, military occupation, annexation, bombardment, blockades, and attacks on another state's forces. These acts serve as guidelines for the Security Council to determine acts of aggression"

Article 3. Subsection (F) covers the situation.

Unfortunately Bahrain, Kuwait and other GCC countries were likely involved.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/13/world/middleeast/bahrain-us-missile-strike-iran.html

Although their military forces may not have participated, by allowing Americans bases in their Countries to be used to launch attacks on Iran they therefore are legal targets. Note the US Navy base in Bahrain was attacked particularly viciously as it is the home of the US 5th Fleet Navy and it's alleged that the missiles fired on the Girl's school in Minab were fired from Bahrain.

This was not helped by America who kept praising their Gulf friends (Hegseth) who "helped" and also CENTCOM who posted videos of missiles being fired in the region against Iran, knowing full well that Iran has it's own satellites and likely access to Chinese intelligence/satellites that can track missiles.

@BelleHathor Is that why there was no condemnation for the IRGC on that thread about them attacking the Kuwait water desalination plant then (apart from that coming from the Israel supporters) because Kuwait are “involved” with the US?

I’m struggling to understand it because I thought attacking civilian infrastructure was almost always a war crime (apart from when the infrastructure attacked is used for military purposes) but you now seem to be saying structures are legal targets in countries involved with the US.

Was hitting the water desalination plant a legal target or a war crime @BelleHathor ?