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

President Trump said Tuesday he will postpone attacks on Iran while its “fractured” leadership tries to submit a proposal for lasting peace.

Mr. Trump said he agreed to extend a two-week ceasefire for an undetermined period upon the request of Pakistani leaders who have been serving as mediators between the U.S. and Iran.

The ceasefire had been due to expire by Wednesday night, Mr. Trump said.

“We have been asked to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal,” Mr. Trump said on Truth Social.

“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,” he said.

Mr. Trump announced his decision after it was revealed that Vice President J.D. Vance delayed a trip to Islamabad, Pakistan, for renewed peace talks.

---

SEE ALSO: Trump suggests China got caught by U.S. sending military aid to Iran

---

Earlier Tuesday, Mr. Trump said he was reluctant to extend the ceasefire and threatened to launch devastating attacks on Iran’s power plants and bridges.

He reversed himself after two days of mixed messages from Washington concerning further diplomatic talks with Iran.

Mr. Trump announced Monday that a U.S. delegation would travel to Pakistan for talks that day, but none were held.

Mr. Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Mr. Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner were all still in the U.S. on Tuesday afternoon.

The U.S. and Iran met for negotiations earlier this month, though they did not reach a deal after more than 21 hours of talks.

The two sides had agreed to a two-week ceasefire just days before the first round of talks, 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 expressed doubts Tuesday that continued negotiations would yield any positive results.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said that “inconsistent behavior” by the U.S. has slowed the peace process.

Parliamentary 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 surrender or to justify renewed warmongering,” Mr. Bagher Ghalibaf posted on X. “We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats, and in the past two weeks, we have prepared to reveal new cards on the battlefield.”

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

Iran has called the blockade and the interception war crimes and said these actions are hampering peace talks.

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

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the blockade and the interdiction of the commercial vessels a clear violation of the ceasefire but said Iran knows 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 will attend talks. Pakistani officials reported Tuesday afternoon that they had not heard from Tehran.

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

In spite of the confusion, Mr. Trump remained bullish that Iran would return to the negotiating table and argued that the U.S. has good leverage given its military strength and blockade of Iranian ports.

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

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

Mr. Trump and his representatives have 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, effectively closed for more than a month. The closure has sent shock waves through global energy markets and resulted in plunging stock prices.

Gas prices in the U.S. remain far higher than they were before the war, averaging just over $4 a gallon. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said earlier this week that prices are unlikely to return to prewar levels until next year.