Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the United States will extend the ceasefire with Iran until Tehran submits a "unified" proposal and the ongoing bilateral discussions reach a conclusion. This extension comes as the initial two-week ceasefire was set to expire on Wednesday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the decision to prolong the ceasefire was prompted by a request from Pakistan's top officials, Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who have been acting as mediators in the U.S.-Iran discussions. Trump revealed this development through a social media post on Truth Social, where he emphasized the fractured state of the Iranian government and the necessity of a unified proposal for progress.
Trump has instructed the U.S. military to maintain its blockade on Iran while staying prepared for any eventuality, pending the submission and conclusion of Iran's proposal. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the resumption of peace talks, Trump expressed optimism about securing a favorable agreement with Iran.
The New York Times reported that U.S. Vice President JD Vance has postponed his visit to Pakistan for further peace talks due to Iran's lack of response to U.S. positions. Iran has yet to formally confirm its participation in the Islamabad talks, adding to the ongoing tensions between the two nations.
These tensions have been exacerbated by Iran's strong reaction to the U.S. blockade of its ports and vessels and the imposition of new sanctions targeting its unmanned aerial vehicle and ballistic missile programs. In an interview with CNBC, Trump stressed that the U.S. is in a robust negotiating position and that Iran must comply with demands, including renouncing its nuclear weapon ambitions, to reach a beneficial deal.
In related developments, the U.S. forces intercepted and boarded a vessel in the Indian Ocean, sanctioned for a transaction with Iran. This action follows the Navy's recent seizure of an Iranian cargo ship attempting to evade the U.S. maritime blockade. Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, criticized these moves as violations of the ceasefire and acts of war in a post on X.
The initial round of U.S.-Iran negotiations, held in Islamabad in April, did not yield an agreement. The ongoing flare-up between the two countries comes as the Trump administration seeks to resolve the conflict with Iran, mindful of the economic repercussions ahead of the U.S. midterm elections in November.