US President Donald Trump has extended the ongoing ceasefire with Iran, even as he made it clear that the US naval blockade around key Iranian ports will stay in place. The decision came just a day before the two-week truce was set to end, giving more time for peace talks to move forward.
Trump said the move was taken after a request from Pakistan, which has been acting as the main mediator between the two sides. He mentioned that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir had asked him to pause any military action so that Iran’s leadership could prepare and present a “unified proposal” for negotiations.
While announcing the extension on Truth Social, Trump said he has instructed the US military to stay fully prepared while continuing the blockade near the Strait of Hormuz. He stressed that the ceasefire will remain in place until Iran submits its proposal and talks reach a clear outcome, but pressure through the blockade will not be lifted.
The announcement came at a time when a second round of talks was expected to be held in Islamabad. However, those plans hit a pause after Iran pushed back against restarting negotiations. The White House also decided to put Vice President JD Vance’s planned visit to Islamabad on hold, adding to uncertainty around the next steps in the peace process.
So far, Iran’s top leadership has not officially responded to Trump’s decision. However, Tasnim News Agency, which is linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, said that Tehran had not requested any ceasefire extension and repeated warnings that it could try to break the US naval blockade by force, calling it an act of war.
Trump’s announcement appears to be a one-sided move for now, and it is still unclear whether Iran or US ally Israel will agree to continue the ceasefire. While the extension has reduced immediate fears of renewed fighting, the situation remains tense as the world waits to see if a proper deal can be reached.
