Trump Extends Ceasefire With Iran, Delays Military Attack

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President of the United States (US), Donald Trump, announced the extension of a ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday night. As reported by Al Jazeera, Trump stated that the US military will postpone an attack to allow more time for Tehran to propose a plan to end the war.

This move was made at the request of Pakistan as a mediator, according to Trump. The ceasefire was initially set to expire on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.

"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," Trump said in a social media post.

With no specific time frame, Trump's statement indicates that the ceasefire extension is open-ended, at least from the US side.

Iran's Response

Iran did not immediately respond to Trump's statement. The semi-official news agency, Tasnim, stated that Tehran's position would be "announced officially later".

This extension marks the latest sudden change in stance from the Trump White House.

A few hours before his social media post, Trump stated that he opposed extending the ceasefire, warning Iran that time was running out before the US launched a large-scale attack on its infrastructure.

This change in stance came as Iranian officials condemned the US naval blockade of the country's ports, casting doubts on their participation in the scheduled talks on Wednesday.

Pakistan's Role

Following Trump's announcement, Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, expressed gratitude for agreeing to the ceasefire extension. He stated that Islamabad will continue to push for conflict resolution through negotiations.

"I sincerely hope that both sides will continue to observe the ceasefire and be able to conclude a comprehensive ‘Peace Deal’ during the second round of talks scheduled at Islamabad for a permanent end to the conflict," Sharif said in a post on X.

With the ongoing U.S. naval blockade, it remains unclear whether the ceasefire extension will be sufficient to bring Iran to the negotiating table in Islamabad.

Earlier on Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, referred to the blockade of Iranian ports as an "act of war" and a violation of existing ceasefires.

"Iran knows how to neutralize restrictions, how to defend its interests, and how to resist bullying," Araghchi wrote.

Differences of Opinion in Iran?

Despite Iran's public stance rejecting US threats and naval blockade, Trump suggested that internal differences within Iran's leadership were slowing diplomatic efforts.

"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, 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," claimed Trump.

Since the US and Israel first launched attacks on Iran on February 28, several senior Iranian officials have been killed, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

However, there has been no major defection within Tehran's governing system, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) leading the war efforts.

Khamenei has been succeeded by his son, Mojtaba, who has not appeared in public since being selected as the supreme leader last month.

Reporting from Tehran, Al Jazeera correspondent Ali Hashem explained that Trump's statement about leadership divisions in Iran is likely a "misconception".

"Iran has a very unified leadership since the assassination of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei," said Hashem.

"Why? Because the new leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, and the circle around him are a team that’s been working together for the past 15 years. Members of this team are currently in the centres of decision in Tehran."

Blockade of Strait of Hormuz

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered a global energy crisis affecting major industries

Iran and the US agreed to an initial two-week ceasefire on April 8. However, the agreement has been undermined by disagreements over the inclusion of Lebanon in the ceasefire and control of the Strait of Hormuz, leading to ongoing tensions.

To end the war, the US seeks to completely halt Iran's nuclear program and limit its missile production and support for regional allies, including Hezbollah and Hamas.

However, Tehran insists on its right to enrich uranium domestically as part of its civilian nuclear program. They also refuse to use their military capabilities and regional alliances as concessions.

Another key point is Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

Trump claims that Tehran has agreed to allow the US to extract nuclear material from a bombed site. However, Iran asserts that they will not allow the uranium to leave the country.

Barbara Slavin, a leading researcher at the Stimson Center think tank, stated that Trump's extension of the ceasefire is a "way to cover the embarrassment" of failed negotiations.

She pointed out that Trump was willing to send Vice President JD Vance to negotiate with Iran in Pakistan, but Tehran seems unwilling to attend the talks.

"This war hasn’t gone the way he expected from the very beginning, and Iran has discovered new leverage in its control of the Strait of Hormuz," Slavin told Al Jazeera.

The US must "relinquish its maximalist demands" and offer Iran "some sort of gesture that it is serious in seeking a resolution," she added.

Read: Iran Rebuffs EU Demands over Strait of Hormuz Blockade

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