President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the United States will extend its ceasefire with Iran indefinitely, delaying a potential resumption of military strikes and signaling a possible opening for renewed diplomatic efforts.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the decision came after outreach from Pakistani leaders, including Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who have been attempting to mediate an end to the nearly two-month-long conflict.
“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,” Trump wrote.
He added, “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.”
The announcement came just hours before the ceasefire was set to expire and followed earlier remarks from Trump indicating he was prepared to resume a “devastating” bombing campaign if negotiations failed. Speaking to CNBC earlier in the day, Trump said, “I expect to be bombing because I think that’s a better attitude to go in with,” while emphasizing that the U.S. military remains “raring to go.”
Vice President JD Vance had been expected to travel to Islamabad for a second round of talks with Iranian negotiators, but suspended the trip after tensions escalated. Iranian officials signaled reluctance to return to negotiations following the U.S. Navy’s seizure of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, cited “contradictory messages, inconsistent behavior and unacceptable actions by the American side” as reasons for hesitation. Iranian leaders had not publicly responded to Trump’s ceasefire extension as of Tuesday evening.
The seizure of the vessel has further strained already fragile relations. U.S. officials said the ship was attempting to evade an active blockade and ignored repeated warnings, while Iran condemned the action as “terrorism,” “piracy,” and an “act of aggression” that violated the ceasefire agreement.
Despite the pause in direct military action, the broader conflict continues to impact global markets. Major U.S. stock indices fell sharply Tuesday amid uncertainty surrounding the situation, while crude oil prices climbed, nearing $100 per barrel for Brent crude. The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical flashpoint, as roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply passes through the narrow waterway.
Key disagreements between Washington and Tehran remain unresolved. The United States continues to demand that Iran end its nuclear program, a central objective since Trump authorized initial air strikes on Feb. 28. Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear activities are for civilian purposes.
Trump expressed optimism that a deal could still be reached, stating he believes the U.S. is “going to end up with a great deal,” though he did not provide details. For now, the ceasefire extension offers a temporary reprieve, but the path forward remains uncertain as both sides weigh their next moves.
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