Donald Trump has unilaterally extended the two-week ceasefire with Iran indefinitely, pending a unified proposal from Tehran, in a dramatic reversal of his earlier bellicose statements. The US president announced the extension on Tuesday, hours after saying he expected to resume bombing, citing a request from Pakistani leaders Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Trump wrote on Truth Social that he had directed the military to continue the blockade of Iranian ports and remain ready to attack, but would hold off until Iranian leaders could agree on a proposal. The decision came amid a chaotic day that saw a planned trip to Islamabad by Vice-President JD Vance put on hold and Trump telling CNBC he did not want to extend the ceasefire, insisting the US was in a strong position.
Iranian officials reacted with anger. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the parliamentary speaker and lead negotiator, dismissed the extension as a ploy to buy time for a surprise strike. His adviser, Mahdi Mohammadi, wrote on social media that the continuation of the siege must be met with a military response, adding that the losing side cannot dictate terms.
Senior figures in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were reportedly angered by Trump's social media posts last Friday, which depicted Iran as surrendering on key points. This led to the Strait of Hormuz being re-closed a day after Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had declared it open. The strait, a vital waterway for global oil supplies, was closed by Iran in the early stages of the conflict.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked Trump for the extension and pledged to continue mediation efforts. However, the US blockade remains a major hurdle, with Iran demanding its end before further talks. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that the blockade would continue, stating that Kharg Island storage would be full within days and Iranian oil wells would be shut in.
A first round of talks in Islamabad ended without agreement 10 days ago. The International Energy Agency's Fatih Birol noted the combined impact of the conflict on global oil and gas supplies, which have been cut by around a fifth due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
