Mediators present US, Iran with 10-day ceasefire proposal - Axios

Mediators propose 10-day ceasefire between US and Iran

Mediators have presented the United States and Iran with a proposal for a 10-day ceasefire, according to reports from Axios that were carried by multiple outlets. The initiative, put forward by Qatar, Egypt, Pakistan and other regional mediators, is designed to halt fighting and create space to revive an interim memorandum of understanding agreed last month, while also reopening commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed on Monday that mediators were actively trying to prevent further escalation, though he declined to provide details, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Coverage comparison

Reporting on the proposal has focused on the diplomatic push, both governments' responses, and the current state of hostilities. The Jerusalem Post reported that the US and Iran have submitted their responses to the proposal put forward by Pakistan and Qatar, citing Al Arabiya and Al Hadath. The report also noted that the US has not launched new attacks on Iran for two consecutive nights, following nearly two weeks of sustained military operations. According to a separate Jerusalem Post article, it was Tehran that initiated the current proposal, citing two sources familiar with the talks. That report added that the purpose of the ceasefire would be to find a solution regarding the Strait of Hormuz.

TASS reported that the US administration is exploring the proposal and that Washington is simultaneously preparing for the talks to fail, citing Axios. Another TASS report described the initiative as requiring both sides to refrain from aggressive actions and to implement provisions of the earlier memorandum of understanding.

A third TASS report highlighted a dissenting view from an Iranian political scientist, who argued that Washington would use the ceasefire to plan a ground operation, and that Tehran should reject the initiative.

Key claims

• Ceasefire proposal: A 10-day ceasefire proposal has been presented to both the US and Iran by mediators including Qatar, Egypt, Pakistan and other regional actors, as reported by Al Jazeera and TASS citing Axios.
• Strait of Hormuz: The proposal includes reopening commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Al Jazeera and TASS.
• Responses: The US and Iran have submitted their responses to the proposal, as reported by the Jerusalem Post citing Arab media.
• US hold on strikes: The US has not launched a new attack on Iran for two consecutive nights, according to the Jerusalem Post.
• Iran as initiator: Tehran initiated the proposal, according to two sources cited by the Jerusalem Post.
• Iranian expansion: Iran has stepped up attacks on shipping and targets across the region, and the US has widened its bombing campaign deeper into Iran, according to Al Jazeera.
• US demands: The United States is demanding a longer ceasefire and insists on partial understanding regarding freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz before any ceasefire takes effect, the Jerusalem Post reported.

Perspectives

Iranian political scientist: Ceasefire is a decoy

Iranian political scientist Ruhollah Modabber, in an interview with TASS, said the proposed ceasefire is "another American decoy" and that the US plans to launch a ground attack on Iran from multiple directions. He argued that the ceasefire would allow the US to arrange logistical routes and redeploy troops without worrying about a potential Iranian attack, and that the initiative has only the purpose to deceive Tehran and lay groundwork for a broader US attack.

US administration's stance

The US administration is exploring the proposal, according to Axios as carried by TASS, while also preparing for the talks to fail. A US administration source said the parties remain engaged in talks, but Washington intends to continue striking Iran as long as President Trump considers it appropriate. Additionally, President Trump said that although he retains the option to continue or escalate the attacks, the "smarter strategy" would be to reach an agreement, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.

Iranian government's position

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson confirmed mediators were working to prevent escalation but declined to provide details, as reported by Al Jazeera, indicating official acknowledgement of the proactive efforts without seeing them a stance on the proposal itself.