Trump Extends Iran Ceasefire Indefinitely as Diplomatic Talks Continue

President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he is extending the ceasefire with Iran indefinitely, providing additional time for diplomatic efforts to yield a resolution. The announcement followed a White House meeting with his national security team and arrived just hours before the ceasefire was scheduled to expire, thereby averting a potential resumption of hostilities and a significant regional escalation.

The extension contradicted Trump’s earlier statement that morning, in which he indicated no intention to prolong the ceasefire. While the move suggests he is not yet prepared to resume military action, it may weaken his negotiating position by removing the pressure of a looming deadline and the perceived credibility of a threatened military strike.

Trump explained on Truth Social that he made the decision at the request of Pakistani mediators—Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan’s military chief, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He stated:

"Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured ... 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."

The ceasefire will remain in effect until Iran submits a unified proposal and discussions are concluded, one way or the other. Trump also directed the U.S. military to maintain the naval blockade on Iran’s ports and to remain ready and able to resume hostilities if necessary.

Iran Responds: Ceasefire Extension 'Has No Meaning'

Mahdi Mohammadi, a national security adviser to Iranian parliamentary Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, dismissed the extension as insignificant. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote:

"The losing side cannot set conditions. The continuation of the blockade is no different from bombing and must be responded to militarily. Moreover, the extension of the ceasefire by Trump certainly means buying time in order to deliver a surprise strike. It is the time for Iran's initiative."

A spokesman for Iran’s armed forces issued a statement asserting that Iran is 100% prepared for any sudden U.S. attack. The statement warned that "in the event of aggression," Iran’s forces "will immediately and powerfully attack predetermined targets and will give America... a harsher lesson than before."

Behind the Scenes: Awaiting Iran’s Supreme Leader

According to a regional source familiar with mediation efforts and an Israeli source with knowledge of the discussions, one key factor in Trump’s decision was the anticipation of a response from Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei to the latest proposal. Both sources indicated that Khamenei was expected to provide a clear directive to Iranian negotiators, with the Israeli source specifying that his response was anticipated on Wednesday.

"The Iranian negotiators said they are waiting for a green light from the supreme leader," the regional source noted.

Internal Divisions in Iran’s Leadership

Recent days have seen intense internal debate within Iran’s leadership over how to proceed in negotiations with the Trump administration, according to a U.S. official and a regional source. Iran’s leadership remains deeply divided, complicating efforts to present a unified stance in talks.