Iran Reportedly Cuts ‘Direct Talks’ with U.S. But Keeps Backchannels Open as Trump’s 8 PM Deadline
UPDATE: According to fresh developments, Iran has cut off direct communication with the US, but NOT with intermediaries, and ongoing negotiations are ahead of President Trump’s 8 p.m. deadline.
Iran International reported:
The Wall Street Journal, quoting Middle Eastern officials, reports that Iran has only cut off its “direct” communications with the US not its talks with ceasefire mediators.
While the move has temporarily complicated efforts to make a deal by Trump’s 8 p.m. deadline, it hasn’t ended the talks, the report said.
“Iran intended to send a signal of disapproval and defiance by severing communications,” one official was quoted as saying.
Iran’s state-run Tehran Times later reported that “diplomatic and indirect channels of talks with the US are not closed.”
The Tehran-based paper had earlier reported that Iran had cut “all diplomatic and backchannel talks” with the US.
JUST IN: Tehran Times deletes report claiming Iran has closed communication with U.S. https://t.co/WBVJeIcHdg
— Polymarket (@Polymarket) April 7, 2026
A senior U.S. official told Fox News this morning that they are absolutely in contact with Iran and the talks have been positive.
The ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Iran have been “positive” so far, but it remains unclear whether an agreement can be made in time to meet President Donald Trump’s deadline, a senior U.S. official told Fox News on Tuesday.
“We are absolutely in touch with [Iran]. Absolutely. [The talks] have been positive. If we get lucky, we will have something by the end of the day,” the official said.
Trump has given Iran until 8 pm ET to accept an agreement that includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
If Iran does not meet the deadline, Trump has vowed to drastically escalate the conflict, targeting the nation’s power plants and transportation infrastructure.
The terrorist regime has reportedly severed ALL diplomatic channels with the United States, including back-channel communications that had been kept open with the United States following President Donald Trump’s earth-shaking ultimatum.
The move comes as President Trump delivered one of the most chilling warnings ever issued by a sitting U.S. president, declaring that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran refuses to comply with U.S. demands.
Trump wrote on Truth Social Tuesday morning:
“A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will. However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS? We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World.”
Tehran’s decision to sever direct diplomatic channels is a deliberate act of defiance following Trump’s ultimatum.
The Wall Street Journal reported:
“Iran has cut off direct communications with the U.S. over President Trump’s threat to destroy Iran’s “whole civilization” Monday morning, though talks with cease-fire mediators continue, Middle Eastern officials said. The move has temporarily complicated efforts to make a deal by Trump’s 8 p.m. deadline Tuesday but hasn’t ended the talks, the officials said.
One of the officials said Iran intended to send a signal of disapproval and defiance by severing communications. It is unclear if direct talks will resume before the deadline. The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.”
The Gateway Pundit reported earlier that Reza Amiri Moghadam, the Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan, took to social media to announce that secret “diplomatic endeavors” to end the current regional war are reaching a “critical, sensitive stage.”
Moghadam wrote on X:
“Pakistan positive and productive endeavours in Good Will and Good Office to stop the war is approaching a critical, sensitive stage … Stay Tuned for more.”
Pakistan positive and productive endeavours in Good Will and Good Office to stop the war is approaching a critical, sensitive stage …
Stay Tuned for more
— Reza Amiri Moghadam (@IranAmbPak) April 7, 2026
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