U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that Washington will extend its cease-fire with Iran, just hours before the two-week truce was due to expire, following a request from Pakistan to allow more time for diplomatic efforts.
In a statement, Trump said Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had urged the United States to pause military action so Iranian leaders could present a unified proposal aimed at ending the conflict. He confirmed that U.S. forces would maintain their current positions, including a naval blockade, while awaiting progress in negotiations.
Trump said the U.S. military would “remain ready and able” as discussions continue, adding that the cease-fire would last until Iran submits a proposal and talks reach a decisive point. He also suggested that divisions within Iran’s leadership were complicating the process.
Prime Minister Sharif welcomed the decision, thanking Washington for granting additional time for diplomacy. He expressed hope that both sides would continue to respect the cease-fire and move toward a negotiated settlement.
The extension marks a shift from Trump’s earlier remarks on the same day, when he indicated reluctance to prolong the truce. In an interview, he had warned that the United States could resume military operations if talks failed to advance, stating that American forces were prepared for further action.
Uncertainty continues to surround the next round of negotiations, which are expected to take place in Islamabad. A U.S. delegation led by Vice President JD Vance had been scheduled to travel to Pakistan, but the visit has now been postponed. Iranian officials have also not confirmed whether they will participate.
Tehran has maintained that it will not engage in talks under pressure. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said there was “no final decision” on attending negotiations, citing what he described as inconsistent signals from Washington.
Tensions have remained high in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route for global energy supplies. The U.S. Navy recently seized an Iranian vessel in the Gulf of Oman, accusing it of attempting to bypass the blockade. Iran has condemned the action, calling it a violation of the cease-fire and demanding the ship’s immediate release.
Washington, in turn, has accused Iran of breaching the truce through hostile actions in the waterway. Trump said earlier that Iran had violated the cease-fire multiple times, a claim Tehran disputes.
Global leaders continue to push for stability in the region and the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which carries a significant share of the world’s oil and gas shipments. With both sides holding firm positions and negotiations still uncertain, the path toward a lasting agreement remains unclear.
