Donald Trump extends fragile Iran ceasefire at the last minute after emergency talks with Pakistan avert collapse
Donald Trump has extended the fragile Iran ceasefire at the last minute following crucial discussions with Pakistan that were on the brink of collapsing.
The president is still vowing to maintain a blockade on the Persian Gulf and has given no date which the pause in fighting will now end.
In a bombshell statement Trump said on TruthSocial: “Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured”, adding the US had been asked to delay action until Iran’s leaders could agree a unified position.
He confirmed: “I have therefore directed our Military to continue the Blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able.”
The ceasefire, according to Donald Trump, will now remain in place “until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other.”
Marking the fourth delay since the original truce was first declared on March 23, Trump once again pushed back military action.
The president did not set any clear deadline for when the latest extension will end.
A fresh extension of the fragile pause is understood to have come after urgent requests from Pakistani mediators, with Trump indicating the intervention played a key role in holding off escalation.
Iranian state media claimed Tehran had not asked for an extension.
An adviser to Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Tehran’s top negotiator, accused the US of delay tactics that would carry little weight.
“Trump’s ceasefire extension is certainly a ploy to buy time for a surprise strike,” Mahdi Mohammadi wrote on X.
He added: “The extension of the cease-fire by Donald Trump has no meaning. The losing side cannot set the terms.”
The explosive move comes as JD Vance’s high-stakes trip to Pakistan was cancelled after Tehran “didn’t respond” to US demands.
His planned departure was delayed for hours on Tuesday, with sources saying he remained in Washington for urgent White House policy meetings.
A US government plane due to carry envoys including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Islamabad failed to depart as scheduled, instead turning back mid-plan.
Trump had earlier declared “I expect to be bombing” if talks fail before the ceasefire deadline at 1am on Thursday (8pm ET Wednesday), adding that “the military is raring to go”.
Vance had been due in Islamabad to hammer out a deal with Iran and end weeks of escalating conflict.
Despite previously signalling openness, Iran has yet to decide whether it will even come to the table.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed Tehran has not made a decision, as officials scramble to salvage negotiations.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed Tehran has not made a decisionCredit: AP
Truth Social post by Trump todayCredit: Refer to source
Trump has extended the ceasefire
He urged both sides to extend the truce by another two weeks “to give dialogue and diplomacy a chance”.
Both nations vowed to resume bombing if there was no deal.
Despite Donald Trump announcing an extension to the ceasefire, Iran has yet to publicly respond or signal its position, with no official reaction issued through state media.
Iranian media pointed to “unacceptable actions” by the US – an apparent reference to Trump’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz – and claimed there are now “no plans” to meet Vance in Pakistan.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, through which roughly a fifth of global oil trade passes.
Sources say Iran is locked in fierce internal disputes, with hardliners demanding the US lift its naval blockade before any talks can proceed.
Officials spent all of Monday waiting for a breakthrough – but none came.
Peace efforts were already on the brink after US troops stormed an Iranian-linked vessel earlier today.
The ship was carrying “a gift from China”, Trump said, adding it “wasn’t very nice.”
He told CNBC Iran had “probably done a little bit of restocking”, suggesting Beijing may have been supplying weapons.
“I’m sort of surprised, because I have a very good relationship and I thought I had an understanding with President Xi,” Trump said.
“But that’s all right. That’s the way war goes, right?”
China has denied assisting Iran.
Iran’s parliamentary speaker issued a stark warning that the regime is “prepared to reveal new cards on the battlefield”
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tehran rejects any diplomacy carried out under pressure, declaring: “We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats.”
In a hardline post on X, he added that over the past two weeks Iran has been preparing for escalation, warning: “In the past two weeks, we have prepared to reveal new cards on the battlefield.”
Ghalibaf accused Washington of trying to force Iran into submission, claiming the US wants to turn negotiations into “a table of surrender” or justify renewed conflict.
Despite the dramatic seizure, Trump had earlier struck an optimistic tone, saying he expected to “end up with a great deal”.
But the truce has been under strain from the very start.
Just one day after it was agreed on April 8, Iran imposed multi-million dollar fines on US tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
A furious Trump blasted the move, raging: “This wasn’t our deal.”
Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance launching a Tomahawk Land Attack Missile during operations in support of Operation Epic FuryCredit: EPA
JD Vance was due to lead the critical crunch talks with Iran later todayCredit: Reuters
The death toll will continue to rise if the US and Iran fail to strike a peace dealCredit: AFP
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