President Donald Trump Tuesday agreed to increase the ceasefire with Iran, on the request of Pakistan, however maintained that the uswill proceed the blockade of Iranian ports and stressing that he was awaiting a unified proposal from the Islamic Republic.
The announcement got here as last-minute ceasefire talks between the U.S. and Iran seemed unsure and a two-week truce was set to run out Wednesday twenty second April 2026, It due to this fact got here as a aid for the oil market which has skilled uncertainty in the previous few weeks.
Earlier, the White Home placed on maintain Vice President JD Vance’s anticipated journey to Islamabad for a second spherical of talks as Tehran, at the very least for the time-being, has balked at additional talks.
In a Fact Social submit asserting the ceasefire extension, Trump mentioned the U.S. navy would “stay prepared and in a position, and can due to this fact prolong the ceasefire till such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, someway.”
Moreover, he mentioned the U.S. would proceed its blockade of Iranian ports. However each international locations have warned that, and not using a deal, they had been ready to renew combating.
“Based mostly on the truth that the Authorities of Iran is severely fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Subject Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, we’ve got been requested to carry our assault on the nation of Iran till such time as their leaders and representatives can provide you with a unified proposal.
“I’ve due to this fact directed our navy to proceed the blockade and, in all different respects, stay prepared and in a position, and can due to this fact prolong the ceasefire till such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, someway,” he said on his social media handles.
Pakistan Scrambles to Get US, Iran to Negotiate
Additionally, Pakistani leaders, together with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, labored intensively late Tuesday to get either side to conform to a second spherical of ceasefire talks, in keeping with two officers who spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t authorised to talk to the media.
Iranian Overseas Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei advised Iran’s state TV there was “no closing determination” on whether or not to conform to extra talks due to “unacceptable actions” by the U.S., apparently referencing its current blockade within the Strait of Hormuz.
As J.D Vance placed on maintain a return journey to Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, Trump’s particular envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner had been anticipated in Washington on Tuesday afternoon for consultations about find out how to proceed, mentioned a U.S. official who spoke on situation of anonymity to debate inside administration deliberations.
The official cautioned that Trump might change his thoughts on negotiating with Iran at any time, and declined to foretell what would occur if the ceasefire expires with out one other assembly. The official mentioned Trump has choices wanting restarting airstrikes.
The pause in hostilities had been set to run out inside hours. The president mentioned Pakistan, which is making an attempt to mediate an finish to the conflict, requested he maintain off any assaults.
Trump’s announcement was a marked departure from his feedback earlier within the day, when he advised CNBC that if Iran didn’t conform to U.S. calls for, “I anticipate to be bombing.” He additionally mentioned the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would proceed.
Iran, for its half, had earlier known as for the USA to elevate its naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s overseas minister, Abbas Araghchi, known as the blockade “an act of conflict.”
Blockade Violates Ceasefire Deal, Says Iran
Iran’s Overseas Minister, Abbas Araghchi, mentioned the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports violates a ceasefire and quantities to “an act of conflict.” In a submit on X, Araghchi mentioned Iran would defend its pursuits and “resist bullying.”
Araghchi’s feedback got here as each Iran and the USA have attacked ships making an attempt to move by way of the Strait of Hormuz. On Saturday, India mentioned two of its ships got here beneath assault from Iranian forces.
The subsequent day, the U.S. navy attacked and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship after it tried to maneuver across the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports. On Tuesday, U.S. forces stopped and boarded a sanctioned tanker within the Indian Ocean carrying oil from Iran, the Pentagon mentioned.
Oil Value Nears $100 as J.D Vance’s Journey Placed on Maintain
Worldwide oil costs approached $100 a barrel Tuesday afternoon after Vice President J.D Vance’s journey to Pakistan was placed on maintain. The worth has soared for the reason that U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran started in late February, solely to return again down when the USA and Iran agreed to a two-week cease-fire that’s set to run out quickly.
Despite the fact that a separate 10-day cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon has largely held because it went into impact final week, Israel on Tuesday mentioned Hezbollah had fired rockets towards Israeli troops in southern Lebanon.
The Israeli navy has stored up repeated strikes for the reason that truce started, citing a clause within the US-mediated Contract that permits Israel “to take all mandatory measures in self-defense, at any time, towards deliberate, imminent, or ongoing assaults.” Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group, has criticised that Contract. The group didn’t instantly touch upon Tuesday.
Vance’s diplomatic journey to Islamabad, the place he was anticipated to press Iranian negotiators for a nuclear deal, has been placed on maintain after Tehran failed to answer American negotiating positions, in keeping with a U.S. official with direct information of the scenario.
Vance had been scheduled to depart Tuesday morning for the Pakistani capital, the place talks had been set to renew on Wednesday — the identical day the delicate cease-fire between the USA and Iran is about to run out. With out an Iranian response, the official mentioned, the diplomatic course of is in impact paused, although the journey has not been canceled.
The journey may very well be again on at a second’s discover with President Trump’s approval. U.S. officers are additionally in search of a transparent signal that Iran’s negotiators have been totally empowered to succeed in an Contract.
The delay is one other hurdle within the Trump administration’s push to safe an Contract that will curb Iran’s nuclear programme, and it comes because the Pentagon has been reviewing navy choices ought to Mr. Trump conclude that Tehran shouldn’t be negotiating in good religion.
Iran: No Last Resolution to Take part in Talks
Iran has not made a closing determination on whether or not to take part within the proposed talks in Pakistan, its Overseas Ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, mentioned on Tuesday, in keeping with the nation’s state broadcaster, IRIB. He blamed it on “contradictory messages, inconsistent habits and unacceptable actions by the American facet.”
He additionally condemned reported assaults on Iranian vessels as a blatant violation of worldwide regulation.
Steve Witkoff, the president’s particular envoy, and Jared Kushner, his son-in-law, have additionally not left the USA, in keeping with a White Home official. They had been purported to journey to Pakistan as a part of the U.S. delegation with Vance, however all three males stay in the USA.
{Financial} markets are wanting more and more wobbly, as buyers assess the uncertainty about when peace talks would resume. The worth of oil, which slipped at the beginning of the day, jumped increased, with Brent crude gaining practically 3 per cent. Stocks went the opposite means, with early positive factors for the S&P 500 fading into small losses.
U.S. Considers {Financial} Help for U.A.E
Trump mentioned Tuesday that the USA was contemplating providing {financial} assist to the United Arab Emirates, an oil-rich ally that has been contending with {economic} fallout from the conflict in Iran.
The conflict has broken oil and fuel infrastructure all through the Center East, dealing a blow to economies that depend on the Strait of Hormuz to move crude around the globe. The Emirates is an unlikely recipient of {economic} assist, and the truth that it has inquired about help demonstrates the cascading results of the battle.
“It’s been an excellent ally of ours, and you recognize, these are uncommon occasions,” Trump mentioned on CNBC on Tuesday.
Trump added that the Emirates had been hit exhausting by Iranian retaliation and that it had pledged to make substantial investments in the USA. He famous that the nation’s wealth made the necessity for assist stunning. “I’m shocked, as a result of they’re actually wealthy,” Trump mentioned.
Emirati officers met with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington final week on the sidelines of the spring conferences of the Worldwide Financial Fund (IMF) and the World {Bank}. The Treasury Division mentioned that of their conversations, officers “emphasised that the USA seeks to discourage future assaults and make sure that vitality markets are usually not additional impacted by Iran.”
Kevin Hassett, the director of the Nationwide {Economic} Council, mentioned on Monday that he anticipated the Treasury Division to “make each effort” to assist the Emirates out. He additionally urged, nonetheless, that the {financial} assist would most likely not be mandatory.
“We very a lot recognize President Trump’s recognition of the U.A.E. as one in all America’s most necessary {economic} and commerce companions,” the Emirates’ ambassador to the USA mentioned in a submit on X.
America Turns Again 27 Ships
The U.S. Navy has turned again 27 ships making an attempt to enter or exit Iranian ports since an American blockade exterior the contested Strait of Hormuz started a few week in the past, the navy’s Central Command has mentioned.
A U.S. navy official additionally mentioned {that a} workforce of Marines was looking out and scanning a lot of containers aboard the Touska, an Iranian cargo ship that the Navy disabled and seized within the Gulf of Oman on Sunday after it tried to evade the blockade.
It was the primary time a vessel was reported to have tried to evade the U.S.-imposed blockade on any ship coming into or exiting Iranian ports because it took impact final week.
American officers will decide what to do with the disabled vessel as soon as the search is accomplished, a U.S. navy official mentioned, talking on the situation of anonymity to debate operational issues. One possibility can be to tow the stricken ship to Oman, impartial specialists mentioned. Another can be to let the Touska steam to an Iranian port, if it might.
The ship’s crew will probably be returning to Iran quickly, a second U.S. navy official mentioned.
“The message is out that almost all ships are usually not desirous to go on the market,” Kevin Donegan, a retired vice admiral and former prime Navy commander within the Center East, mentioned in an interview. The Touska’s captain had ignored a number of radioed American warnings to halt.
Emmanuel Addeh
Times Nigeria