The president of the United States extends the ceasefire with Iran until negotiations conclude; Tehran’s terms are “a ploy to buy time”
ISLAMABAD:
US President Donald Trump announced an extension of the current ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday night, saying the decision was made following a request from Pakistan’s top leaders and to give Tehran time to present a unified proposal for a permanent resolution of the conflict.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the truce, which was set to expire in a few hours, would remain in effect until Iran presents a comprehensive plan and negotiations reach a final result.
“Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is severely fractured, as expected, and at the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan, we have been asked to suspend our attack on the country of Iran,” Trump wrote.
He added that the US military had been ordered to maintain pressure on Iran while avoiding an immediate escalation.
“I have ordered the US military to continue the blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and trained,” he said.
Trump indicated the extension was conditional and temporary, intended to create space for diplomacy amid signs of internal divisions within Iran’s leadership.
Reacting to the announcement, an adviser to the speaker of the Iranian parliament and chief negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, said US President Donald Trump’s extension of the ceasefire is a “strategy to buy time” for a surprise attack.
Qalibaf’s adviser said in a post on X that the continuation of the US blockade of Iranian ports “is no different from a bombing and must be met with a military response.”
The Iranian Tasnim news agency, quoting Iranian officials, said: If the United States wants to maintain the shadow of war, it should consider the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed completely.
“The continuation of a naval blockade amounts to continued hostility; as long as the blockade persists, Iran will at least not reopen the Strait of Hormuz and, if necessary, will break the blockade by force.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked the US president for extending the ceasefire. “On my personal behalf and on behalf of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, I sincerely thank President Trump for graciously accepting our request to extend the ceasefire to allow ongoing diplomatic efforts to take their course,” he wrote in a post on X.
“With confidence reposed in him, Pakistan will continue its earnest efforts towards a negotiated solution to the conflict.
“I sincerely hope that both sides will continue to respect the ceasefire and can conclude a comprehensive ‘peace agreement’ during the second round of talks scheduled in Islamabad for a permanent end to the conflict.”
This development comes at a critical time, as diplomatic efforts to turn the fragile truce into a broader agreement are intensifying.
Pakistan has been actively facilitating secondary contacts between Washington and Tehran, seeking to avoid further escalation and push both sides toward a negotiated settlement.
Earlier, Tehran expressed reluctance to confirm its participation in the peace efforts leading the US delegation led by the vice president to postpone its departure for Islamabad on Tuesday.
The lack of clarity has disrupted diplomatic momentum, and the U.S. team has not yet left Washington despite extensive preparations for talks scheduled for Wednesday.
The American delegation was scheduled to leave for Islamabad on Tuesday afternoon Pakistan time, but Iran’s refusal to send its team put the process in jeopardy.
At 7:30 pm Pakistan Standard Time, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Islamabad was still waiting for a formal response from Tehran on the composition and arrival of its delegation.
“A formal response is still awaited from the Iranian side on confirmation of the delegation to attend the Islamabad peace talks,” Tarar said, adding that Pakistan, as a mediator, remains in constant touch with the Iranian authorities and continues to carry out diplomacy and dialogue.
The two-week ceasefire was due to expire at 4:50 a.m. PST on April 22, although conflicting timelines have now emerged, adding to the confusion.
While Pakistan maintains that the ceasefire ends early Wednesday morning, Iranian officials suggest the truce could last almost 24 hours longer. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has vaguely indicated that the ceasefire would end “Wednesday night”, leaving no clear consensus on the exact deadline.
The situation became more complicated on Tuesday with growing controversy over US actions at sea and Iran’s preconditions for talks.
Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, said Tehran had received signals suggesting Washington might be willing to lift its naval blockade.
He said the next round of talks could take place in Islamabad once that happens, reiterating Iran’s position that talks cannot continue under military pressure.
Tehran has consistently maintained that any negotiations should not take place under what it calls the “shadow of threats,” particularly referring to the alleged US naval presence around the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi further escalated the rhetoric, describing any blockade of Iranian ports as “tantamount to war” and a violation of the ceasefire.
In a statement, it also warned that attacking commercial ships or detaining their crews would constitute an even more serious violation.
“Iran knows how to neutralize sanctions, defend its interests and respond to pressure,” he said, signaling Tehran’s readiness for both diplomacy and confrontation.
Diplomatic sources in Islamabad said Pakistan has stepped up efforts to persuade Tehran to join the process and prevent the collapse of the fragile truce.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated that Pakistan remains committed to facilitating engagement between the two sides and emphasized that dialogue and diplomacy are the only viable way forward.
Meanwhile, confusion also persists in Washington over the status of the American delegation’s travel plans.
Reports citing US officials suggested that Vice President JD Vance’s visit had been postponed after Iran failed to respond to the US negotiating position. However, there has been no formal announcement from the White House about whether the trip has been delayed indefinitely.
What is clear, however, is that Vance is not gone. US media reported that he remained in Washington attending political meetings at the White House, with no indication of an imminent visit to Islamabad.
Ishaq Dar
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke to envoys of various countries and discussed regional developments.
In his meeting with US chargé d’affaires Natalie Baker, Dar stressed that talks were the only “viable way” to address current challenges.
“Foreign Minister Dar emphasized Pakistan’s continued focus on dialogue and diplomacy as the only viable means to address challenges and achieve lasting regional peace and stability,” said a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).
The statement also mentions that “Minister Dar underscored the need for engagement between the United States and Iran, urging both sides to consider extending the ceasefire and giving diplomacy a chance.”
The statement noted that Natalie conveyed the United States’ appreciation for Pakistan’s “constructive and positive role” in promoting regional peace and facilitating dialogue.
Earlier, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong expressed Beijing’s full support for Islamabad’s diplomatic efforts aimed at facilitating US-Iran engagement during a meeting with Foreign Minister Dar.
The ministry on
The statement said the discussions also focused on the latest regional situation. Dar reaffirmed the “All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership” between Pakistan and China, underlining the strength of bilateral ties.
“He also highlighted the importance of continuing high-level exchanges between the two countries,” he added.
Dar also spoke with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on Tuesday evening, discussing the latest regional developments, the Foreign Ministry said.
The two sides emphasized the importance of dialogue and compromise to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region.
“The two leaders discussed the latest regional developments and emphasized the importance of dialogue and compromise to achieve lasting peace and stability,” the FO said in a statement.
He added that the Saudi Foreign Minister reiterated the Kingdom’s support for Pakistan’s continued efforts in this regard.
Both sides agreed to remain in close contact, he concluded.
Furthermore, Dar also had a telephone conversation with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty to discuss the latest regional developments.
According to the MoFA, both ministers “emphasized the importance of dialogue and compromise for peace and stability” during their discussion.
He added that the two sides agreed to remain in close contact as part of ongoing diplomatic coordination on regional issues.
Foreign Minister Dar has received unprecedented international recognition for his diplomatic leadership, as Pakistan positioned itself at the center of high-stakes mediation efforts during the escalating crisis between Iran, the United States and Israel.
Over the past week, senior officials and influential voices from more than ten countries, including Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United States, China, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Bahrain and Uzbekistan, have publicly acknowledged Dar’s role in facilitating ceasefire negotiations.
Pakistan emerged as a central facilitator in the delicate diplomatic track, positioning itself as an “honest broker” amid sharply polarized positions between Washington and Tehran.
After 40 days of airstrikes, American and Iranian negotiators began talks in Islamabad earlier this month, again focused on the well-known exchange of nuclear restrictions for economic relief.
When American and Iranian negotiators met last weekend in Islamabad, the United States proposed a 20-year moratorium on all Iranian nuclear activity, while Iran suggested a three- to five-year moratorium, according to people familiar with the proposals.
The second round of talks is yet to formally begin in Islamabad, while Pakistan has intensified its efforts to achieve a successful deal. However, there are still obstacles in the negotiations and problems remain on both sides.
