U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday an extension of the ceasefire with Iran, just hours before the truce was set to expire, in order to give Tehran more time to present a proposal to end the conflict.
The move comes after Iran threatened to target oil production in neighboring Gulf countries if the Islamic Republic were attacked from their territories.
The two sides had previously provided conflicting timelines for the end of the truce. Iranian state television said the two-week ceasefire would expire at 00:00 GMT on Tuesday, while Trump stated it would end a day later, on Wednesday evening Washington time.
Posting on his platform Truth Social, Trump said he would extend the ceasefire until Iran submits a proposal to end the war, while noting that he had instructed the military to continue enforcing the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports.
The White House also announced that Vice President J. D. Vance would not travel to Pakistan for what had been expected to be a second round of peace talks.
A White House official stated that “the trip to Pakistan will not take place today,” adding that any updates regarding in-person meetings would be announced by the White House.
Trump explained that the decision was based on divisions within the Iranian government and followed a request from Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to pause military action to allow Iranian leaders to present a unified position.
Sharif welcomed the decision, thanking Trump for agreeing to extend the ceasefire to allow ongoing diplomatic efforts to continue.
Iran has not yet announced whether it will participate in the talks. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the hesitation was due to “contradictory messages and unacceptable behavior” from the U.S. side.
Since the first round of talks held in Islamabad, Washington has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports, while Tehran has again closed the Strait of Hormuz. Both sides have repeatedly accused each other of violating the ceasefire.
“An Act of War”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the U.S. blockade as “an act of war” and a violation of the ceasefire, stating that Iran knows how to bypass restrictions, defend its interests, and resist pressure.
The U.S. Department of Defense said it had intercepted and inspected a sanctioned vessel linked to Iran in an undisclosed location without incident.
Tehran also called on the United Nations to condemn the U.S. seizure of the Iranian cargo ship “Tosca,” describing it as “piracy” and a clear violation of the ceasefire. Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, warned that such actions pose serious risks to the security of vital maritime routes.
Meanwhile, Pakistan continues mediation efforts to bring the two sides together in Islamabad. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar urged both parties to consider extending the ceasefire and give diplomacy a chance.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that Iran would not engage in talks “under threat” and could reveal “new options on the battlefield” if the war resumes.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also threatened to target oil production in the Middle East if Iran is attacked from neighboring Gulf countries.
Iranian officials say they believe the Trump administration has not negotiated in good faith and has refused to scale back what they describe as excessive demands.
Despite the tensions, oil prices fell on Tuesday while stock markets rose, amid hopes for a potential agreement to end the conflict.
In Islamabad, heavy security deployments were reported, particularly around the Serena Hotel, where previous U.S.–Iran talks were held. Authorities also heightened security across the city, with some schools and universities shifting to remote learning and restrictions placed on heavy vehicle entry.
Separately, a U.S. official said Washington will host new talks between Israel and Lebanon on Thursday, aimed at advancing a potential agreement. A ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel has been in effect since midnight Thursday–Friday.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated that Lebanon needs €500 million to address the humanitarian crisis.
Hezbollah rejected direct negotiations with Israel and previously opposed the Lebanese government’s decision to disarm the group. The group also announced it had targeted northern Israel in response to what it described as repeated ceasefire violations.
— AFP
