The United States and Iran are holding confidential discussions on a potential long-term ceasefire tied to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, Axios reported on April 2, citing three US officials.

The talks may be conducted directly or through intermediaries, though no final agreement has been reached and the outcome remains uncertain, the officials said. No further details of the negotiations were disclosed.

Two additional sources told Axios that President Donald Trump spoke by phone on April 1 with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss the prospect of a ceasefire.

US Vice President JD Vance held separate talks with intermediaries on March 31 about potential ceasefire options, one source said. Vance told the Iranian side that Washington was open to halting hostilities on condition that US demands, including the reopening of the Hormuz strait, were met.

He repeated Trump's threat to target Iranian infrastructure if no deal is reached, ILNA reported, citing the Axios report.

Iranian officials have not publicly commented on the Axios report; however, previous reports by the agency, which is close to the intelligence community, are accurate about events in Washington. 

The report came hours after Trump's primetime address in which he said the war was "nearing completion" and gave Iran two to three weeks to reach an agreement before the US would strike power plants and oil infrastructure.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on April 1 that Tehran had received messages through mediators, including Pakistan, but ruled out direct talks with Washington, describing US demands as "maximalist and unreasonable."

Iran's parliament approved plans on March 31 to impose tolls on vessels transiting the Hormuz chokepoint and ban US and Israeli ships, signalling Tehran's intent to retain long-term control over the waterway. China and Pakistan issued a five-point peace plan the same day calling for the restoration of normal shipping.