Ahead of Pak talks, Trump's praise for Iran and a warning

Donald Trump ruled out any extension to the ceasefire deadline, which will end on April 22, adding simply, "I don't want to do that. We don't have that much time."

In Short

• US-Iran ceasefire expires midnight April 22 with no extension expected
• Trump issues ultimatum, hinting at military action if no deal soon
• Both sides accuse each other of ceasefire violations, tensions rising

As the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran hangs by a thread, with only hours remaining before it expires at midnight on April 22, President Donald Trump has issued a high-stakes ultimatum wrapped in both opportunity and warning. In an interview with CNBC, the US President painted a picture of Washington holding all the cards in what he sees as a long-overdue reckoning after nearly five decades of tension.

"I think we’re in a very strong negotiating position to do what other Presidents should’ve done during a 47-year period -- 47 years with these bloodthirsty people," Trump declared.

He insisted the United States is "dealing with them very successfully" and that a breakthrough is possible. Yet he offered Iran a stark choice: seize the moment or face consequences. "Iran can get themselves in a very good footing if they make a deal. They can make themselves into a strong nation again, a wonderful nation again. They have incredible people... they have to use reason, and they have to use common sense," he said.

NO EXTENSION OF CEASEFIRE DEADLINE

Trump was blunt about the deadline. Asked whether he needed at least the prospect of a signed deal in the next 48 hours or would resume military action, he replied without hesitation: "Well, I expect to be bombing because I think that’s a better attitude to go in with -- but we’re ready to go."

He ruled out any extension to the ceasefire deadline, which will end on April 22, adding simply, "I don’t want to do that. We don’t have that much time."

The US President also praised his administration’s naval blockade as "a success," arguing it has placed genuine pressure on Tehran ahead of any final agreement. Even as bombs remain on standby, Trump’s tone has been one of unapologetic triumph. In a Truth Social post he wrote, "I’m winning a War, BY A LOT, things are going very well, our Military has been amazing."

CONFUSION OVER TALKS IN PAKISTAN

However, beneath the confidence, the situation on the ground feels far more uncertain. A second round of direct talks was supposed to take place in Islamabad, Pakistan, but the very existence of those talks now hangs in the balance.

Trump told The New York Post that a high-level American delegation -- including Vice President JD Vance, envoy Steve Witkoff, and adviser Jared Kushner -- was already en route. However, the US delegation did not reach Pakistan. The conflicting messaging have fueled speculations whether the administration is projecting certainty or simply scrambling to keep momentum alive.

Fresh claims of bad faith add to tensions. On Truth Social, Trump alleged that Iran had violated the ceasefire agreement numerous times. Iran, for its part, has levelled the same charge at Washington. On Sunday, after a US destroyer seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman, Tehran’s military headquarters branded the incident an "act of armed piracy" and a "violation of the ceasefire." Washington countered that the vessel was attempting to evade the American naval blockade. The rhetoric has grown even sharper inside Iran.

Major General Abdullahi, speaking through the IRGC-affiliated Fars news agency, dismissed Trump as "lying and delusional," claiming Iranian forces had driven both Israel and the United States "to despair and exhaustion, forcing them to desperately request a ceasefire." He vowed that Iran’s armed forces would not allow the US president to "create false narratives of the situation on the ground," particularly regarding control of the Strait of Hormuz.

TEHRAN IS RELUCTANT ON TALKS

Iran has stopped short of confirming it will even send a delegation to Pakistan for talks. Speaker of the Iranian parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf -- the man expected to lead any delegation to Islamabad -- added his own voice to the chorus of defiance. Iran, he said, "won’t accept negotiations under the shadow of threats."

He accused Trump of "opening a siege and violating the ceasefire," referring directly to the US seizure of the Iranian vessel and the counter-blockade on Iranian ports. Behind the fury, however, lies a deeper story of political tension inside Iran.

With the ceasefire due to expire tomorrow, the coming hours will reveal whether the high-stakes diplomacy in Islamabad produces a deal or whether the region slides back into open conflict.

- Ends