US Extends Ceasefire Period with Iran at Pakistan’s Request, Postpones Military Action

April 22, Kathmandu – US President Donald Trump has announced the extension of the ceasefire period with Iran. He also stated that military action would be postponed to allow Tehran more time to present further proposals for ending the conflict.

The decision made on Tuesday came following a request from Pakistani mediators, according to Trump. Earlier, Trump had threatened military action if Iran did not come to an agreement by Wednesday.

Despite the extension of the ceasefire, Trump confirmed that the US blockade on Iran remains in effect. “I have instructed our military to maintain the blockade and stay fully prepared,” Trump wrote on social media. “The ceasefire will be extended until their proposals arrive and negotiations reach a conclusion.”

However, Trump did not specify how long the ceasefire extension would last.

The extension marks a sudden policy shift by the Trump administration. Just hours before the announcement on social media, Trump had warned of a major attack on Iran if the ceasefire was not extended.

Meanwhile, Iranian officials have criticized the US naval blockade imposed on Iranian ports, which had raised doubts about their participation in the negotiations scheduled for Wednesday.

Following the announcement, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed gratitude to Trump for extending the ceasefire and reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to continuous diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.

“I hope both sides will continue to honor the ceasefire and that the second phase of talks in Islamabad will lead to a permanent resolution,” Sharif wrote on Twitter.

Nevertheless, there remains uncertainty over whether extending the ceasefire alone—while the naval blockade continues—is sufficient to bring Iran to the negotiating table.

Iran has not issued an immediate response to Trump’s statement. The semi-official Tasnim News Agency, based in Tehran, indicated that an official position would be released later.

Earlier on Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the blockade as an “act of war,” accusing the US of violating the current ceasefire.

“Iran knows how to nullify sanctions, protect its interests, and withstand pressure,” Araghchi wrote.

Trump’s Claim of ‘Leadership Division’ in Iran Called a ‘Misunderstanding’

Since February 28, the US and Israel have launched attacks on Iran, resulting in the deaths of many senior officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Despite this, there has been no significant division within Tehran’s ruling structure, where the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps leads the war effort.

Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has taken his father’s place but has not made any public appearances since his appointment last month.

According to Ali Hashem, Al Jazeera’s Tehran correspondent, while Trump suggested that leadership divisions in Tehran are preventing agreement in talks, this claim might be a misunderstanding.

“Following the death of the former Supreme Leader Khamenei, leadership in Iran remains very unified. New leader Mojtaba Khamenei and his group have been working together for the past 15 years and currently, decision-making centers on this active team,” Hashem explained.

On April 8, Iran and the US agreed to a preliminary two-week ceasefire. However, persistent disagreements over Lebanon’s involvement and control of the Strait of Hormuz have maintained underlying tensions.

The US demands the complete shutdown of Iran’s nuclear program, restrictions on missile production, and cessation of support to regional allies such as Hezbollah and Hamas as preconditions for ending the war.

Iran, however, insists on its right to enrich uranium domestically for peaceful purposes and refuses to make military capabilities or regional relations part of any agreement.

Another contentious issue is Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Trump claims Iran has agreed to remove nuclear materials from sites damaged by bombings. Iran has clearly stated it will not allow these materials to be taken out of the country.