US President Donald Trump says the ceasefire with Iran will be extended indefinitely to allow more time for diplomacy, as a second round of peace talks was on hold.
The announcement came via a post by Trump on his social media platform, Truth Social, a day before the existing truce was set to expire, in what he says was after a request from Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir.
“Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, 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,” wrote Trump.
Sharif later thanked Trump for his “gracious acceptance” of Pakistan’s request, saying the ceasefire extension would allow ongoing diplomatic efforts to proceed.
Pakistan had planned to host a second round of talks, but the White House put on hold Vice President JD Vance’s planned trip to Islamabad as Iran rebuffed efforts to restart negotiations.
Iran has not yet responded to Trump’s announcement of the ceasefire extension. Both countries have warned on Tuesday that, without a deal, they were prepared to resume fighting.
Pakistani leaders, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, worked intensively to get both sides to agree to a second round of ceasefire talks.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told Iranian state-run media that there has been “no final decision” on whether to agree to more talks with Washington in light of what he called “unacceptable actions” by the US, referring to the US blockade of Iranian ports.
In a Truth Social post announcing the ceasefire extension, Trump said his country would continue the blockade, which was instated last week in response to Tehran’s weeks-long closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz to maritime traffic.
“I have therefore directed our Military to continue the Blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able, and will therefore extend the Ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other.”
In a separate post, the US president again reiterated that Iran is suffering losses of around $500 million (€426 million) per day due to the blockade. The US Navy on Sunday attacked and seized its first Iranian cargo vessel, which it said was attempting to evade the blockade.
“Iran doesn’t want the Strait of Hormuz closed, they want it open so they can make $500 Million Dollars a day (which is, therefore, what they are losing if it is closed!),” wrote the US president.
“They only say they want it closed because I have it totally BLOCKADED (CLOSED!), so they merely want to ‘save face’,” he added.
Trump then dismissed the possibility of lifting his blockade of Iranian ports, saying that if he were to do that, a deal with Iran to end the hostilities comprehensively “can never be done”, as he renewed threats of new US attacks on Iranian positions and the incumbent leadership.
“People approached me four days ago, saying, “Sir, Iran wants to open up the Strait, immediately.” But if we do that, there can never be a Deal with Iran, unless we blow up the rest of their Country, their leaders included!”
The uncertainty over the war, ongoing peace efforts and the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz have rattled global markets and global oil prices.
Brent crude, the international standard, spiked to around $99 a barrel on Wednesday, a roughly $4 increase per barrel from the previous day’s trade, as markets anticipated a resumption in hostilities.
The US has accused Iran of manufacturing a global oil price crisis amid its insistence on keeping the vital waterway closed, and of “holding the global economy hostage”. Iran have maintained that it remains open to all, except the United States, Israel and their allies.