India, April 8 -- A two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran has emerged from a tense mix of public threats and behind-the-scenes negotiations, with multiple countries quietly stepping in to prevent a full-scale war.

The breakthrough came when Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei signalled, for the first time during the conflict, that negotiators should move towards a deal. This "green light" was crucial, stated an Axios report, with one regional official saying, "Without his green light, there wouldn't have been a deal." Khamenei remained deeply involved in decision-making, even as he communicated through indirect and secretive channels due to security threats.

The deal took shape during a "chaotic" day of diplomacy. US ...