Trump Extends Iran Ceasefire as Diplomacy Gets Another Chance at Pakistan’s Request

President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he is extending the ceasefire with Iran at Pakistan’s request, giving diplomacy another chance to achieve a negotiated settlement.

The extension comes as the existing ceasefire was set to expire, with Trump stating on Truth Social that the decision was made “based on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan.”

Trump emphasized that while the ceasefire is being extended, the U.S. Military will continue “the Blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able,” maintaining pressure on Iran through ongoing naval restrictions in the Persian Gulf.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly thanked Trump for the extension, stating on X that “With the trust and confidence reposed in, Pakistan shall continue its earnest efforts for negotiated settlement of conflict.”

The extension was announced just hours before the previous ceasefire deadline, though Trump did not specify how long the new extension would last, describing it as an open-ended effort to allow Iranian officials time to present what he called a “unified proposal.”

Iranian officials have responded skeptically to the extension, with Mahdi Mohammadi, an adviser to Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, posting on X that “Trump’s ceasefire extension means nothing, the losing side cannot dictate terms,” reflecting internal divisions within Tehran’s leadership over how to engage with U.S. Diplomatic overtures.

Vice President JD Vance, who is heading the U.S. Negotiation team, has indicated that the talks remain uncertain, with Iran yet to decide whether to join a new round of peace discussions, even as the U.S. Maintains its blockade of Iranian ports and monitors for compliance in the Strait of Hormuz.

The development underscores Pakistan’s ongoing role as a mediator in Middle East diplomacy, leveraging its relationships with both the United States and Iran to facilitate dialogue amid heightened regional tensions.