Diplomatic Efforts Behind the Scenes: Progress in US-Iran Relations

On Wednesday, April 8, Axios reported that during US President Donald Trump's ultimatum to Iran, significant diplomatic shifts were already underway behind the scenes. Despite the prevailing uncertainty, sources from the publication indicated that efforts to achieve a peaceful agreement had been ramped up.

According to Axios, even Trump’s closest aides were unsure of what to expect from the unfolding situation. A representative from the US Department of Defense remarked, 'We had no idea what was going to happen. It was wild.' He emphasized that American troops in the Middle East and Pentagon officials were preparing for possible strikes on Iranian infrastructure.

As the US prepared for potential military actions, America's allies in the region were also bracing for 'unprecedented retaliation' from Tehran. In Iran, some civilians began evacuating their homes, fearing possible large-scale bombings.

On April 6, in the morning, while Trump celebrated Easter at the White House, his 'very angry' special envoy, Steve Witkoff, was engaged in phone negotiations. According to sources from Axios, Witkoff described a 10-point proposal that Iran had put forward to the US as a 'disaster.' This day became 'chaotic' due to amendments being made as Pakistani mediators attempted to reconcile new drafts between Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

By the evening of April 6, the mediators had secured US approval for an updated proposal regarding a two-week ceasefire, which was to be ratified by Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. The intrigue lay in the fact that Khamenei had not appeared in public since a US and Israeli airstrike that eliminated his father, Ali Khamenei, and communicated primarily through couriers. Reports about his health were conflicting; on April 6, The Times reported that he was completely unconscious and unable to govern the country.

When an agreement was finally obtained, allegedly on behalf of Khamenei, two Axios sources described it as a 'breakthrough.' 'Without his [Khamenei's] green light, there would have been no agreement,' one source stated.

By the morning of April 7, it was clear that progress had been made. However, Trump did not miss the opportunity to issue a threat to Iran, stating, 'A whole civilization will die tonight.' The publication noted that even among Trump's close allies, there was no clarity regarding his real intentions, with some speculating that he would not agree to a ceasefire.

Shortly before Trump made his announcement, he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure his commitment to adhering to the ceasefire. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that Iran would comply with the ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to vessels operating 'in coordination with Iran's armed forces.'

According to an Israeli official, Netanyahu received assurances that the US would insist that Iran abandon its nuclear material, cease uranium enrichment, and refrain from threatening to use ballistic missiles. Negotiations are scheduled for the upcoming Friday, April 10, likely to be led by US Vice President Jay D. Vance in Pakistan.

On the night of April 8, Trump announced on the social media platform Truth Social that he had agreed to suspend bombings of Iran for two weeks on the condition that the Strait of Hormuz be immediately reopened. The day before, on April 7, Trump had threatened Tehran with new powerful strikes, stating that 'a whole civilization will die.' He also warned that the US could target power plants, bridges, and other infrastructure in Iran if Tehran did not reach an agreement and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

In response to these threats, Iran declared that further strikes on its infrastructure would open 'the gates of hell' for the US and Israel. Tehran also asserted that it would only fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz after the US compensated for financial damages.