Summary

President Donald Trump announced that the United States would extend its ceasefire with Iran indefinitely, stepping back from earlier threats of renewed bombing and giving diplomacy more time as efforts continue to bring Tehran back to the negotiating table. Just hours earlier, Trump had suggested that military action could resume quickly, saying he had expected bombing to restart and warning that “lots of bombs” would follow if no agreement was reached before the deadline. Later, however, he reversed course and said the ceasefire would remain in place until Iranian negotiators submit what he called a unified peace proposal. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the decision came after requests from Pakistan’s military chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. “We have been asked to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal,” he wrote. He added that the US military had been instructed to maintain its naval blockade while remaining fully prepared for action. “I have therefore directed our Military to continue the Blockade… and will therefore extend the Ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded.” Pakistan, which has been mediating between Washington and Tehran, welcomed the move. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked Trump for what he described as a “gracious acceptance” of Islamabad’s request, saying Pakistan would continue working toward a negotiated settlement. Security was tightened across Islamabad as officials prepared for the possibility of a second round of high-level talks, although Vice President JD Vance’s expected trip was put on hold. Iran, however, responded with deep skepticism. Senior officials did not formally accept the ceasefire extension, and Tehran made clear that no delegation had yet traveled to Pakistan. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused Washington of trying to turn diplomacy into submission, writing: “We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats.” He warned that Iran was preparing “to reveal new cards on the battlefield.” His adviser, Mahdi Mohammadi, dismissed Trump’s announcement as “a ploy to buy time for a surprise strike,” adding that “the losing side cannot dictate terms.” Tensions remain especially high over the Strait of Hormuz and the ongoing US naval blockade of Iranian ports. Tehran insists the blockade must end before talks can restart, while Washington has refused. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that Iran’s oil infrastructure was under increasing pressure, saying Kharg Island storage would soon be full and oil wells could be forced to shut down. The first round of talks in Islamabad ended without progress, mainly due to disagreements over Iran’s nuclear program, regional proxy groups, and the future of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran had temporarily closed during the conflict. The closure disrupted roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies, sending Brent crude close to per barrel and raising fears of a wider global recession. International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol described the combined effect of the Iran conflict and Russia’s war in Ukraine as “the biggest crisis in history” for global energy markets. The United States has also escalated pressure at sea. After imposing the blockade last week and seizing an Iranian cargo vessel on Sunday, US forces on Tuesday boarded an oil tanker previously sanctioned for smuggling Iranian crude. Iran condemned both actions as piracy. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei called them “piracy at sea and state terrorism” and questioned whether Washington was genuinely interested in diplomacy. Trump has continued to insist that Iran will eventually return to negotiations, arguing that the US holds the upper hand militarily. “We’ve taken out their navy, we’ve taken out their air force, we’ve taken out their leaders,” he said, again raising the issue of regime change and claiming those now in power were “much more rational.” Meanwhile, the conflict has spread across the region. Hezbollah resumed rocket and drone attacks against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, while Israeli officials confirmed that talks with Lebanon aimed at disarming Hezbollah and reaching a broader peace arrangement are set to resume in Washington. UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the ceasefire extension as “an important step toward de-escalation,” saying it creates vital space for diplomacy. Still, with both Washington and Tehran refusing to back down on key demands, the world remains waiting to see whether the extended truce will lead to negotiations or another round of war.