Former US President Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday, a decision he stated followed a direct appeal from Pakistan's leadership. However, within hours, Tehran rejected the extension as a trap, declined to participate in scheduled talks, and warned of potential military action.
Trump made the announcement on Truth Social, just before the two-week truce was set to expire. He attributed the decision to a request from Pakistan's Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, citing a fractured Iranian government. "I have therefore directed our Military to continue the blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able, and will therefore extend the ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other," Trump posted.
Tehran Rejects, Cries 'Ploy'
The announcement appeared unilateral, with no immediate confirmation from Iran or US ally Israel. Vice President JD Vance's planned trip to Islamabad for a second round of truce talks was put on hold and later canceled. Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, stated that Iran had not requested an extension and reiterated threats to forcibly break the US blockade, citing America's "excessive demands."
"For this reason, Iran ultimately announced today that, given this situation, it considers participating in negotiations a waste of time, as the US is obstructing any suitable agreement. Therefore, Iran will not engage with the Americans," Tasnim reported.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had previously called the US naval blockade an "act of war." Following Trump's extension, Mahdi Mohammadi, an adviser to Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, described the move as a deliberate deception. "Trump's ceasefire extension is certainly a ploy to buy time for a surprise strike. Iran must take initiative," Mohammadi posted, calling the ongoing blockade an act of military aggression requiring a response.
Pakistan Claims Diplomatic Victory
In contrast, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly thanked Trump for accepting their request, framing the extension as a diplomatic success. "On my personal behalf and on behalf of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, I sincerely thank President Trump for graciously accepting our request to extend the ceasefire to allow ongoing diplomatic efforts to take their course," Sharif posted on X. He expressed hope for a negotiated settlement in future Islamabad talks.
Blockade Tightens Amidst Tensions
Despite the ceasefire extension, the US naval blockade on Iranian ports shows no signs of easing. US Central Command reported on April 21 that American forces have directed 28 Iranian-linked vessels to turn around or return to port since the blockade began on April 13. This includes the Iranian-flagged vessels Artman and Shamim, and the Comoros-flagged Calista, which reversed course near Chabahar Port.
In a significant maritime action, US forces boarded the oil tanker Tifani in the Bay of Bengal, a vessel previously sanctioned for smuggling Iranian crude. A US defense official confirmed the boarding as part of efforts to track vessels tied to Tehran. Market anxiety over potential disruptions to energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz led to a slight increase in oil prices, despite the ceasefire announcement.