Trump extends Iran ceasefire, citing ‘seriously fractured’ government in Tehran as peace talks stall

President Trump said Tuesday he would postpone attacks on Iran while its “fractured” leaders try to come up with a lasting peace proposal.

Mr. Trump said he had agreed to extend a two-week ceasefire for an indefinite period at the request of Pakistani leaders who serve as mediators between the United States and Iran.

The ceasefire was set to expire Wednesday evening, Mr. Trump said.

“We have been asked to maintain our attack on Iran until their leaders and representatives can present a unified proposal,” Mr. Trump said on Truth Social.

“I have therefore ordered our military to continue the blockade and in all other respects to remain ready and able, and I will therefore extend the ceasefire until their proposal is submitted and the discussions are concluded, one way or another,” he said.

Mr Trump announced his decision after it was revealed that Vice President JD Vance had delayed a trip to Islamabad, Pakistan, to resume peace talks.

Earlier on Tuesday, Mr. Trump expressed reluctance to extend the ceasefire and threatened to launch devastating attacks on Iranian power plants and bridges.

He made an about-face after two days of contradictory messages from Washington regarding the continuation of diplomatic negotiations with Iran.

Mr Trump announced on Monday that a US delegation would travel to Pakistan for negotiations that day, but none took place.

Mr. Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Mr. Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner were all still in the United States as of Tuesday afternoon.

The United States and Iran met for negotiations earlier this month, but failed to reach an agreement after more than 21 hours of negotiations.

The two sides had agreed to a two-week ceasefire just days before the first round of negotiations, narrowly avoiding Mr. Trump’s deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on its power plants and bridges.

Iranian officials on Tuesday expressed doubts about the continuation of the negotiations and their positive results.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the United States’ “incoherent behavior” had slowed the peace process.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who led the Islamic Republic’s negotiating team in the last round of talks, said Tehran would never negotiate under threat and advised Mr Trump to change course.

“Trump, by imposing a siege and violating the ceasefire, seeks to turn this negotiating table – in his own imagination – into a table of capitulation or to justify further warmongering,” Mr. Bagher Ghalibaf posted on »

Mr Ghalibaf appeared to be referring to the US blockade of Iranian ports along the Strait of Hormuz and the seizure of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship on Sunday.

Iran called the blockade and interception war crimes and said the actions hampered peace talks.

The Pentagon announced Tuesday that it had intercepted an unflagged ship carrying Iranian oil in the Indo-Pacific region. This is the second such operation since the blockade began last week and the first outside the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the blockade and ban on commercial ships a blatant violation of the ceasefire, but said Iran knew how to “neutralize restrictions, how to defend its interests and how to resist bullying.”

Pakistan had given Iran until 4:50 a.m. Wednesday in Islamabad (7:50 p.m. EDT Tuesday) to decide whether it would participate in the talks. Pakistani officials said Tuesday afternoon that they had not heard from Tehran.

“Pakistan has made sincere efforts to convince Iranian leaders to participate in the second round of talks and these efforts continue,” Information Minister Attaullah Tarar wrote in a message on X.

Despite the confusion, Mr. Trump remained optimistic about Iran’s return to the negotiating table and argued that the United States has good leverage given its military strength and the blockade of Iranian ports.

“They have no choice but to send them. What I think is we’re going to end up with a lot of stuff,” Mr. Trump told CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”

U.S. officials have maintained that Iran cannot develop a nuclear weapon, and eliminating its uranium enrichment program has remained a key demand from Washington throughout the negotiations.

Mr. Trump and his representatives also demanded that Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz and abandon its support for terrorist groups.

Iran has kept the Strait of Hormuz, through which at least 20% of the world’s oil passes, closed for more than a month. The shutdown sent shockwaves through global energy markets and caused stock prices to plummet.

Gas prices in the United States remain much higher than before the war, averaging just over $4 per gallon. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said earlier this week that prices were unlikely to return to pre-war levels until next year.