Trump extends ceasefire on Iran, citing ‘highly fragmented’ Iranian government

President Donald Trump on Tuesday extended the US ceasefire agreement with Iran by two weeks, saying the extension was authorized because the government in Tehran is “seriously broken.”

Trump said the ceasefire, which he had previously said would end on Wednesday, would last “until such time” as Iran’s leaders and representatives present a “joint proposal” to end the war with the US and Israel.

Trump’s announcement came after reports that an expected trip by Vice President JD Vance to Pakistan for the second round of peace talks with Iranian officials had been suspended, and after the Iranian newspaper Tasnim reported that negotiators in Tehran had told their American counterparts through a spokesman in Pakistan that they would not be showing up for further talks.

“Iran has finally announced today that under these circumstances, going to the talks is a waste of time because the US is blocking any proper agreement,” Tasnim reported.

An adviser to the speaker of Iran’s parliament, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, called Trump’s extension of the ceasefire “a ploy to buy time” for the surprise strike, Reuters reported.

Qalibaf’s adviser, on the X site, also said that the continued blockade of Iranian ports by the US Navy “is no different from bombing and must be met with a military response,” Reuters reported.

Earlier on Tuesday, Trump, during an interview with CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” said, “I don’t want to do that,” after being asked if he would extend the ceasefire to allow peace talks to reach an agreement.

“Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is badly broken, not unexpectedly and, at the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, we have been asked to hold our Attack on the Land of Iran until their leaders and representatives come up with a joint proposal,” said Trump in a statement.

“So I have directed our Military to continue the Blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able, so it will extend the Ceasefire until the time when their proposal is sent, and the negotiations are concluded, one way or the other,” said the president.

Iranian officials have accused the US of violating its commitments under the 10-point framework that Iran initially offered for a ceasefire.

A key point of conflict remains the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s main oil transit route, which Iran effectively blocked at the start of the war.
Trump said he agreed to a ceasefire on the condition that the strait be fully reopened.

But traffic through the area remained on the soft side, and after the first round of peace talks failed, Trump ordered a US Navy blockade of Iranian ports along the route.