Donald Trump has disrupted plans for renewed attacks on Iran by announcing an open-ended extension of the ceasefire just hours before it was due to expire. The former president cited a direct plea from Pakistan’s military and government chiefs as the reason for the extension.
In a late Tuesday post on Truth Social, Trump revealed that he had ordered US forces to maintain the blockade of Iran while holding off on airstrikes. He emphasized that the military remains “ready and able” to strike but will wait until Tehran’s fractured leadership delivers a unified proposal. “We’re on pause until one way or the other, discussions come to a close,” Trump declared.
The request to extend the truce came from Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who urged Washington to halt strikes to give Iran time to form a clear negotiating stance.
There was some confusion over the ceasefire deadline, adding to the tension. Trump initially said the ceasefire would end “Wednesday evening Washington time” but did not specify an exact hour. Pakistan’s information minister set the deadline at 4.50am Pakistani time Wednesday — approximately 7.50pm Washington time Tuesday — which was earlier than Trump’s indication. This discrepancy heightened expectations of a possible return to hostilities.
Earlier on Tuesday, Trump warned that the military was “raring to go” and ready to resume bombing if no deal was reached. Meanwhile, Iran stated it had “no plans for the next round of negotiations” and did not confirm its attendance at upcoming talks scheduled in Islamabad.
Despite the extension of the ceasefire, Trump’s blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz remains firmly in place. The blockade was imposed after Iran refused to halt its nuclear programme, maintaining pressure on Tehran amid ongoing tensions.
Originally published by UKNIP.
