Trump extends ceasefire indefinitely to give Iran more time to negotiate
The US president said the United States will extend its ceasefire with Iran at Pakistan’s request, but continue its blockade of Iranian ports.
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WASHINGTON: United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday (Apr 21) said he was extending a ceasefire with Iran indefinitely at Pakistan's request to give more time for negotiations, but would maintain a US naval blockade of the country's ports.
Trump posted on social media that he would "extend the Ceasefire" until Iran came up with a "unified proposal" to end the conflict. However, he "directed our Military to continue the Blockade".
Trump's ceasefire extension came hours before it was believed to be set to expire.
It was the latest instance of Trump backing down from his repeated threats to bomb power plants and other civilian infrastructure in Iran. United Nations Secretary General António Guterres and others have said international humanitarian law forbids such attacks.
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There was no immediate comment from Iran or Israel.
It also came as the White House said Vice President JD Vance would not be going to Pakistan for what had been expected to be a second round of peace talks.
"The trip to Pakistan will not be happening today. Any further updates on in-person meetings will be announced by the White House," a White House official said in a statement.
Trump cast the breakdown in more talks as resulting from Iranian infighting, adding that Pakistan's leaders had asked him to extend the truce.
"Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, we have been asked to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal," Trump posted on his Truth Social site.
But the blockade of ports on Iran's coast in the Strait of Hormuz will remain in place, Trump said, while the US military will "in all other respects, remain ready and able".
The ceasefire, he said, will be extended "until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other".
Shehbaz Sharif thanked Trump for extending the ceasefire, saying it would allow ongoing diplomatic efforts to proceed.
In a post on X, Sharif said he was expressing gratitude "on my personal behalf and on behalf of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir" for Trump’s "gracious acceptance" of Pakistan’s request to extend the ceasefire.
Sharif said he hoped both sides would continue observing the ceasefire and reach a comprehensive peace deal during a second round of talks scheduled in Islamabad.
Pakistani leaders, including Sharif, worked intensively late on Tuesday to get both sides to agree to a second round of ceasefire talks, according to two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told Iran’s state TV there has been “no final decision” on whether to attend because of “unacceptable actions" by the US, apparently referencing its recent blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
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