officially end the 1980-88 war. 

Despite the bad feelings over the "Axis of Evil" tag, Iranian officials admit that there has been direct contact between US and Iranian officials since the war on terror began. The two nations have not had diplomatic relations since the US embassy in Iran was attacked, and diplomats taken hostage, in 1979. But while the Islamic conservatives and radicals who led the embassy attack in 1979 are losing ground in Iran, they are still strong enough to prevent the restoration of diplomatic relations. So the moderate majority have to work with the US through back door