ISLAMABAD/TEHRAN/WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump indefinitely extended the ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday, hours before it was set to expire, to allow the two countries to continue peace talks.
In a statement on social media, Trump said he had agreed to a request by Pakistan, which has mediated peace talks, “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 stated, “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. I have therefore directed our Military to continue the Blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able, and will therefore extend the Ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other.”
It was the latest instance of Trump backing down from his repeated threats to bomb power plants and other civilian infrastructure in Iran.
An advisor to Iran’s parliament speaker and top negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said President Trump’s ceasefire extension is a “ploy to buy time” for a surprise strike, Qalibaf’s advisor said in a post on X that the continuation of the US blockade on Iranian ports was “no different from bombardment and must be met with a military response.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked President Trump for accepting Pakistan’s request to extend 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 on X.
“With the trust and confidence reposed in, Pakistan shall continue its earnest efforts for negotiated settlement of conflict, he said, adding, “I sincerely hope that both sides will continue to observe the ceasefire and be able to conclude a comprehensive ‘Peace Deal’ during the second round of talks scheduled at Islamabad for a permanent end to the conflict.
Iran’s state-run national broadcaster, IRIB, said US President Trump has unilaterally extended the ceasefire. “Iran rejected the US conditions for negotiations; Trump unilaterally extended the ceasefire! Trump said that at the request of Pakistan’s army chief, the ceasefire would remain in place until Iran presents a new proposal,” IRIB posted on X.
Earlier, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that Iran could attend talks with the United States in Pakistan if Washington abandons its policy of pressure and threats, adding that Tehran rejects negotiations aimed at surrender.
The official said mediator Pakistan was continuing efforts to persuade the United States to lift its naval blockade and release the Iranian-flagged container ship Touska, which was boarded and seized by US forces on Sunday, and its crew. He accused Washington of “creating new obstacles every day instead of resolving the differences” to end the war.
The statement came as US Vice President JD Vance “delayed” his visit to Pakistan. JD Vance’s trip to Pakistan has been put on hold after Tehran failed to respond to American positions, a US official with direct knowledge of the situation said Tuesday, New York Times reported. Talks could resume at a moment’s notice though President Trump has suggested that he did not want to extend the truce without a longer-term agreement.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the US blockade of Iranian ports was an “act of war” and thus a violation of the ceasefire. “Iran knows how to neutralize restrictions, how to defend its interests, and how to resist bullying,” he said in a post on X on Tuesday.
Commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Aerospace Force warned Gulf Arab states against using “enemy facilities” to attack Iran, saying they would have to “say goodbye to oil production” Mehr News reported.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said earlier Tuesday that Pakistan was awaiting Iranian response regarding their participation in the second round of peace talks starting this week with the United States, and Pakistan would continue its efforts. “Ceasefire ends at 4:50 am PST, April 22. Decision from Iran to attend the talks before the end of two weeks ceasefire is critical. Pakistan has made sincere efforts to convince the Iranian leadership to participate in the second round of talks and these efforts continue,” Tarar said in a post on X.
Shortly thereafter, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said a final decision on participating still hadn’t been made. “The reason for this is not indecision; the reason for this situation is that we are faced with contradictory messages, contradictory behaviours, and unacceptable actions from the American side,” he said.
The White House said Vice President JD Vance was still in Washington midday Tuesday to participate in meetings. “Additional policy meetings are taking place at the White House in which the vice president will participate,” an official said in a brief statement sent to AFP shortly after 1700 GMT. The official did not provide further details. But Vance’s departure was scheduled for Tuesday morning, according to recent reports.
Just before Tarar’s statement Iranian Supreme Leader’s Representative to the IRGC, Abdollah Haji Sadeghi, clearly indicated that Iran was not ready for peace talks. “For now, there are no negotiations. We will negotiate whenever the enemy accepts our conditions. The enemy must accept that we are in a position of victory and that it is in a position of defeat. Our people are perceptive; whenever, with the guidance of the leadership, our battlefield shifts from the missile field to the field of negotiation, the people will support it. Our people are a people of logic and reasoning, and loyal to the leadership; wherever and in whatever arena necessary, they have stood against arrogance.”
Meanwhile, US Chargé d’Affairs Natalie A Baker called on Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday at the Foreign Office. “Discussions covered recent regional development. DPM/FM underscored Pakistan’s consistent emphasis on dialogue and diplomacy as the only viable means to address challenges and achieve lasting regional peace and stability. He stressed the need for engagement between the United States and Iran, and urged both sides to consider extending the ceasefire, and to give dialogue and diplomacy a chance,” said the Foreign Office.
Baker conveyed US appreciation for Pakistan’s constructive and positive role in promoting regional peace and facilitating dialogue.
Earlier, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong also called on Ishaq Dar where discussions focused on latest regional developments. “Ambassador Zaidong conveyed China’s full support for and appreciation of Pakistan’s continued efforts to facilitate engagement between US and Iran for sustained peace and stability in the region and beyond”, said a statement from FO.
Dar reaffirmed the Pakistan–China all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, underscored the strength of bilateral ties, and emphasised the importance of sustained high-level exchanges between the two countries.
Saudi Arabia also on Tuesday reiterated the kingdom’s support for Pakistan’s continued efforts for achieving peace and stability through dialogue.
Foreign Minister Dar and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud spoke on phone where they discussed the latest regional developments.
Saudi FM reiterated the kingdom’s support for Pakistan’s continued efforts in this regard. The two leaders agreed to remain in close contact.
In another phone call with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty to discuss the latest regional developments. Both emphasised the importance of dialogue and engagement for peace and stability, and agreed to remain in close contact.
President Trump earlier on Tuesday said the United States is in a strong position for talks with Iran. “We’re going to end up with a great deal. I think they have no choice...We’re in a very, very strong negotiating position,” Trump told broadcaster CNBC. “Iran can get themselves on a very good footing if they make a deal,” he said.
Asked if he would carry out his previous threats to bomb Iran’s bridges and power plants -- something many analysts say could constitute war crimes -- Trump said “it’s not my choice but it will also hurt them.”
He said the United States had intercepted a ship carrying a “gift” to Iran from China as Tehran tries to restock its military during the ceasefire. The ship had “a gift from China” which “wasn’t very nice,” Trump told CNBC. “I was a little surprised,” he added, saying he thought he had an “understanding” with China’s President Xi Jinping.
Trump said late Monday the United States obtaining uranium from Iran would be “long” and “difficult” in the aftermath of last year’s US strikes on Tehran’s nuclear sites. “Operation Midnight Hammer was a complete and total obliteration of the Nuclear Dust sites in Iran,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, adding: “Therefore, digging it out will be a long and difficult process.”
Meanwhile, President Trump will participate in a marathon Bible reading session organised by Christian conservatives, against the backdrop of his rift with the Pope and his recent posting of an image that appeared to depict him as a Jesus-like figure, BBC reported.
Trump was to read from 2 Chronicles on Tuesday night, as part of the “America Reads the Bible” event at the Museum of the Bible in Washington. During the week-long reading event, which is timed to commemorate the 250th anniversary of US independence, other prominent conservatives and members of the administration, including Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are sharing passages.
The US Defence Department said that its forces intercepted and boarded a “stateless sanctioned” vessel as part of Washington’s efforts against networks that provide support to Iran.
“Overnight, US forces conducted a right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding of the stateless sanctioned M/T Tifani without incident in the INDOPACOM area of responsibility,” the department posted on its X page.
Iranian authorities have arrested more than 3,600 people on charges related to the US-Israeli war ranging from sharing videos with media outlets based overseas to possessing Starlink internet terminals, an NGO said on Tuesday.
Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) said the figure, based on state media reports and its own research, represented a minimum given the current internet restrictions in the Islamic republic, and that the actual number of arrests was “likely much higher”.
Iran executed on Tuesday a man convicted of helping set fire to a major mosque in Tehran and of collaborating with Israel and the United States during pre-war protests, the judiciary said.
Iran’s foreign ministry condemned arrests in the United Arab Emirates of what Abu Dhabi said were members of an Iran-linked group plotting terrorist acts in the country.
In a statement, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the arrests were made under “baseless pretexts” and urged the UAE “to respect the rights and human dignity of individuals, refrain from retaliatory behaviour.”
On Monday, UAE authorities said the group arrested was attempting to recruit Emiratis and funnelling funds to “suspicious” foreign entities.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said that gasoline prices appeared to have peaked after a surge linked to the Iran war -- a marked shift in tone a day after President Donald Trump publicly rebuked his earlier, more cautious outlook.
He said the high point was $1 a gallon cheaper than the peak during the administration of Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden, adding: “Yet we’re in the midst of ending a 47-year conflict in the Middle East, a major energy producing region.”
The remarks mark an abrupt pivot from comments Wright made on CNN on Sunday, when he warned that prices might not fall below $3 per gallon until next year due to disruptions in global oil flows.
Britain’s government has announced measures aimed at weakening the link between world market gas prices and the cost of UK electricity as the Middle East crisis fuels energy bills.
The move heads plans by Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour administration to accelerate a clean-energy drive it began on winning power nearly two years ago.
UK counter-terrorism officers investigating a spate of arson attacks on Jewish and other sites in London have made eight further arrests, bringing the total number to 23, police said Tuesday.
Six sites, all of them Jewish save a Persian media outlet that is critical of Iran, have been targeted by arson attacks in recent weeks.
UK police said Tuesday a teenage boy has been charged with arson over the latest of a spate of attacks on Jewish sites around London.
The Israeli military on Tuesday said two soldiers would receive 30 days of military detention and be removed from combat duty over the destruction of a statue of Jesus Christ in southern Lebanon.
The Israeli military said it struck a Hezbollah rocket launcher on Tuesday after the Iran-allied group fired at troops in southern Lebanon.
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega accused his US counterpart Donald Trump of being mentally unstable for his military offensive against Iran that has roiled the Middle East and the global economy. “It’s a problem of, let’s just say, mental instability. As we say here, he’s not in his right mind,” he added.
The 80-year-old former guerrilla also criticized Trump for posting an AI-generated image to his Truth Social platform depicting the US president as Jesus Christ.
The European Union said that it was considering importing more jet fuel from the US and requiring member states to hold minimum reserves as the Middle East war squeezes supplies.
While saying there is no evidence of “actual shortages” currently, EU transport commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas said stocks were “under pressure” in parts of Europe, and the bloc needed to be prepared.
The head of the UN maritime agency appealed on Tuesday for help for thousands of seafarers stranded due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, as the Middle East war paralyses the vital shipping route.
Around 20,000 seafarers and 2,000 ships have been stranded after shipping was disrupted in the strategic strait following US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 that triggered the war, according to the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
German investor morale slid to its lowest level in over three years in April, a survey showed Tuesday, as the Middle East war threatens to snuff out a tentative recovery in Europe’s top economy.
India’s fertiliser production plunged nearly a quarter in March, official data showed, after natural gas imports used in its manufacture were hit by the Middle East conflict.
The Trump administration has implemented a new round of sanctions targeting Iran, CNN reported. The new sanctions hit 14 individuals, companies, and aircraft in Iran, Turkiye, and the United Arab Emirates that are said to be involved with procuring or transporting weapons or components for weapons — including for drones, according to a statement from the US Treasury Department. “The Iranian regime must be held accountable for its extortion of global energy markets and indiscriminate targeting of civilians with missiles and drones,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.
The sanctions targeted a Turkey-based company accused of sending “hundreds of shipments of cotton linters” to an already-sanctioned Iranian company.
Hezbollah said it launched an attack on northern Israel on Tuesday in retaliation for what it said were Israeli violations of a 10-day ceasefire, the first such claim since the truce began.
Hezbollah said in a statement that its fighters launched rockets and attack drones at a site in northern Israel that it said was the source of artillery shelling towards a south Lebanon town.
Saudi cabinet said kingdom’s investments in energy security and alternative export routes have strengthened its ability to supply the world with energy “under the most difficult conditions” resulting from geopolitical tensions in the region, state news reported.
Oil prices pared gains on Tuesday after briefly climbing above $100 a barrel following an announcement from US President Donald Trump that he was extending a ceasefire with Iran until Tehran submits a proposal.
Brent crude futures were volatile, settling up about 3 per cent on Tuesday and then climbing further to rise more than 5 per cent to a session high of $101.15 after reports that US Vice President JD Vance had called off his trip to Islamabad for peace talks with Iran.
