Axios: Iran and the U.S. Closer to an Agreement to End the War

The news outlet Axios reported on Wednesday, April 15, citing U.S. officials, that American and Iranian negotiators have made noticeable progress in their talks and are now closer to reaching an initial framework to end the war.

According to the report, both sides, with mediation from Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey, are trying to bridge the remaining gaps and finalize a deal before the current ceasefire expires.

At the same time, a Pakistani delegation led by Asim Munir, the country’s army chief, arrived in Tehran on Wednesday to hold discussions with Iranian officials.

However, U.S. officials and informed sources stressed that despite the progress, a deal is still not certain and key disagreements remain unresolved. A Pakistani official said, “We must wait and see if a deal can be reached. We are hopeful and are working to bring the two sides closer together.”

Behind the Scenes: The Trump Team’s Role

Behind the scenes, Donald Trump’s negotiating team, including JD Vance, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, continued phone discussions and exchanged written proposals with Iran and the mediators on Tuesday. One U.S. official said these interactions have helped bring both sides closer to a possible understanding.

A second U.S. official confirmed that progress was made during Tuesday’s talks, while a third official added: “We want to reach a deal, and parts of the Iranian government have the same intention, but the main challenge is bringing the entire Iranian governing structure on board with this agreement.”

According to informed sources, another round of face-to-face negotiations could take place in the coming days before the ceasefire ends, though no exact date has been announced.

If an initial agreement is reached, the ceasefire will need to be extended to allow time to work out the full details of a comprehensive deal. “The details are complex and cannot be finalized in two days,” a U.S. official noted.

Economic Pressure on Tehran

The Axios report also pointed to growing pressure on Iran, highlighting that the naval blockade ordered by Donald Trump, which has halted Iranian oil exports, along with the ongoing economic crisis, has increased the urgency for Tehran to reach a deal.

Before the blockade, Iran was exporting around 1.5 million barrels of oil per day, earning roughly $140 million daily. The report noted that this revenue could quickly drop to zero. U.S. officials warned that if storage facilities reach capacity, Iran may be forced to shut down production, leading to long-term economic damage. At the same time, U.S. and Israeli strikes have disrupted major industries like steel and petrochemicals, while cyberattacks targeting financial systems have intensified.

Washington has not yet formally agreed to extend the ceasefire, but efforts to engage with Iran and find a resolution are still ongoing.