US media says the possibility of a US-Iran ceasefire remains "still unlikely"

The U.S. newspaper The Wall Street Journal reported on the 6th, citing sources familiar with the matter, that the United States and regional mediators are moving forward with a 45-day ceasefire agreement in an effort to completely end the war between the United States and Iran, but that the likelihood of reaching such an agreement “remains slim.” The report said the ceasefire agreement is divided into two phases: first, an immediate ceasefire in exchange for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz; second, within three weeks, a “broader agreement,” which includes region-specific permanent solutions for navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. The report said that regional mediators have informed Iran that although U.S. President Trump has publicly threatened to bomb Iran’s power plants, “he is still eager to reach a ceasefire” and “the United States may even make concessions.” The report said Iran has so far refused to accept a temporary ceasefire conditional on either the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz or the country’s surrender of its highly enriched uranium, and it has warned that if the United States carries out strikes against its civilian facilities such as power plants, Iran will retaliate against Israel and energy and power facilities in the Gulf region, especially in Saudi Arabia. Iran believes that “the U.S. may use the 45-day ceasefire period to prepare for further military strikes.” (Xinhua News Agency)