Trump Extends Iran Ceasefire Indefinitely as Peace Talks Remain Stalled

President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the United States would indefinitely extend its ceasefire with Iran—just one day before the truce was set to expire. The announcement came as a new round of peace talks remained stalled, offering temporary relief from fears that renewed conflict could further destabilize energy markets and the global economy.

Pakistan had intended to host a second round of negotiations, but the White House postponed Vice President JD Vance’s planned trip to Islamabad after Iran rejected efforts to restart discussions. Iran has not yet responded to Trump’s announcement regarding the ceasefire extension.

Both nations have reiterated their readiness to resume fighting if a formal agreement is not reached. Pakistani leaders, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, worked intensively behind the scenes to broker a second round of ceasefire talks, according to two unnamed officials familiar with the efforts.

Sharif later expressed gratitude to Trump for accepting Pakistan’s request, stating that the ceasefire extension would provide additional time for diplomatic progress.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told state TV that no final decision had been made on resuming talks due to what he described as “unacceptable actions” by the U.S., specifically referencing the ongoing U.S. blockade of Iranian ports.

In a Truth Social post announcing the ceasefire extension, Trump confirmed that the U.S. would maintain the blockade. Meanwhile, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner were scheduled to meet in Washington on Tuesday afternoon for internal consultations on next steps, according to an anonymous U.S. official. The official cautioned that Trump retains the flexibility to alter his approach at any time and declined to speculate on future outcomes.

The official also noted that Trump has alternatives to resuming airstrikes if negotiations fail to progress.

Both Sides Remain Firm on Key Demands

Before announcing the ceasefire extension, Trump had issued a warning, stating that “lots of bombs” would “start going off” if no agreement was reached by the Wednesday deadline. Iran’s chief negotiator countered with a statement that Tehran possessed “new cards on the battlefield” that had yet to be revealed.

A senior commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a stark threat, warning that if neighboring countries permitted the U.S. to use their territory for attacks on Iran, “they should say goodbye to oil production in the Middle East region.” Gen. Majid Mousavi made the remarks in an interview with an Iranian news outlet.

Strait of Hormuz Control Central to Negotiations

Iran’s U.N. envoy, Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani, stated on Tuesday that Tehran had “received some sign” indicating the U.S. might be willing to lift its blockade of Iranian ports. Iravani emphasized that ending the blockade remains a prerequisite for Iran’s return to peace talks, adding, “I think the next round of negotiations will take place” once the condition is met.

The U.S. imposed the blockade as part of its strategy to pressure Iran into relinquishing its control over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments.