WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD – President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the United States would indefinitely extend its ceasefire with Iran, acting just hours before the two-week truce was scheduled to expire .
In a post on Truth Social, Trump credited the decision to a direct request from Pakistan’s leadership. “Upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, 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,” Trump wrote .
While extending the ceasefire, Trump made clear that the US naval blockade of Iranian ports would continue. “I have directed our Military to continue the Blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able,” he added .
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif quickly thanked Trump for the move. “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,” Sharif posted on X .
However, the fate of a second round of peace talks in Islamabad remains uncertain. Vice President JD Vance’s planned trip to Pakistan has been put on hold after Iran failed to provide a clear commitment to participate . Iranian officials have cited the continued US blockade as a major obstacle, with a senior adviser to Iran’s parliament speaker calling the extension a “ploy to buy time for a surprise strike” .
UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the extension as “an important step toward de-escalation” that would create “critical space for diplomacy”
