Donald Trump Extends Iran Ceasefire, Orders U.S. Blockade Until Tehran Submits Proposal

President Donald Trump extended the ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday, directing the U.S. military to continue the blockade of Iranian ports while waiting for Tehran to submit a proposal.

“United States President Donald Trump has announced an extension to the ceasefire with Iran, saying that the US military will hold off its planned attack to allow more time for Tehran to put forward a proposal to end the war”

Al Jazeera

In a Truth Social post, Trump said, “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.”

Al Jazeera

The extension was framed as open-ended from the U.S. side, with Al Jazeera noting that “Without a specific deadline, Trump’s statement suggests that the truce’s extension is open-ended, at least from the US side.”

Multiple outlets tied the decision to Pakistan’s mediation request, with Trump writing that the move was “upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan.”

The ceasefire had been set to expire on Wednesday, and NBC News reported that Trump said Iran’s “fractured” leadership needed more time to submit negotiating terms.

The BBC described the same extension as Trump saying he would keep the ceasefire in place “until negotiations conclude,” while also reporting that the U.S. sought to maintain economic pressure through sanctions.

Even as the truce was extended, the U.S. continued to emphasize military readiness, with CBS News quoting Trump’s earlier CNBC remarks that “I expect to be bombing, because that is a better attitude to go in with.”

The extension unfolded amid uncertainty over whether U.S. Vice President JD Vance would travel to Pakistan for talks and when the ceasefire would actually end.

El País described the atmosphere as “concern and, above all, confusion” around the possibility of a last-minute pact or extension, noting that the mediator country Pakistan was still awaiting the arrival of the negotiating delegations from the U.S. and Iran.

BBC

El País also reported that “U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who was to lead his country's delegation, postponed his trip indefinitely,” and that “Information Minister Attaullah Tarar still awaited 'a formal response' on the 'crucial' participation of the Iranian side.”

NBC News similarly said that “a White House official said that Vice President JD Vance will not be traveling to Pakistan today,” and that any further updates would be announced by the White House.

Fox News echoed the same decision, quoting a White House official: “In light of President Trump’s Truth Social post confirming the United States is awaiting a unified proposal from the Iranians, the trip to Pakistan will not be happening today.”

The New York Times reported that Vance’s trip to Pakistan was put on hold because, according to a U.S. official, “Tehran had failed to respond to American positions.”

The timing of the ceasefire deadline itself was reported inconsistently across outlets, with El País saying the truce was initially scheduled to end in the early hours of Spanish time and that “Iran's state television spoke of midnight, London time (one more hour in Spain).”

Iran’s response to the ceasefire extension was dismissive and tied to the continued U.S. blockade.

“Washington — President Trump is extending the ceasefire in the war with Iran until talks between the U”

CBS News

CNN reported that Trump’s extension, however, “means nothing” and that Tehran should respond militarily, quoting an Iranian senior adviser who said, “means nothing.”

CNN also said Iran’s foreign minister had earlier called the U.S. blockade an “act of war,” and that Iran pushed back by insisting the U.S. blockade violated the ceasefire.

The New York Times described the first response from Iran as coming from an adviser to Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, writing that “The extension of the cease-fire by Donald Trump has no meaning,” and adding that “The losing side cannot set the terms.”

The same adviser, Mahdi Mohammadi, also appeared in Fox News and was quoted saying, “Trump’s ceasefire extension means nothing. The losing side cannot dictate terms,” and that “The continuation of the siege is no different from bombardment and must be met with a military response.”

Fox News further reported that Mohammadi said the extension was “certainly a ploy to buy time for a surprise strike,” and that “The time for Iran to take the initiative has come.”

In parallel, Fox News cited an IRGC-affiliated report via Tasnim News Agency, saying Iran threatened to break the U.S. blockade “by force, if necessary,” and that “As long as the blockade persists, Iran will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and, if necessary, it will break the blockade by force.”

Pakistan’s role was repeatedly emphasized as the immediate reason for the extension, and Pakistan’s prime minister publicly thanked Trump.

NBC News reported that “Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif today thanked Trump for extending a ceasefire in the war with Iran,” and quoted Sharif saying, “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 to allow ongoing diplomatic efforts to take their course.”

CNBC

Al Jazeera also quoted Sharif’s hope that both sides would “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.”

El País described the mediation as centered on Pakistan awaiting delegations and said “Information Minister Attaullah Tarar still awaited 'a formal response' on the 'crucial' participation of the Iranian side.”

While diplomacy was being extended, the U.S. continued economic pressure through sanctions, with the BBC reporting that the U.S. sought to maintain its economic pressure campaign and quoting an OFAC announcement sanctioning “14 people, entities and aircraft based in Iran, Turkey and the UAE.”

NBC News also reported that Iran demanded the immediate release of a cargo ship seized by the U.S., and that U.S. forces boarded another sanctioned tanker overnight as part of efforts to disrupt support for Iran.

The Guardian added that the U.S. Treasury secretary Scott Bessent posted that “Kharg Island storage will be full in days” and that the U.S. would continue to apply “maximum pressure through Economic Fury.”

As the ceasefire was extended, the Strait of Hormuz remained a central flashpoint, with multiple outlets describing continued blockade pressure and new military planning.

“• Truce extended: US President Donald Trump said he’s extended the ceasefire with Iran until Tehran has submitted a proposal to end the conflict permanently”

CNN

The Guardian reported that Britain would host military planners from “over 30 countries” for two days of talks starting Wednesday, saying the meeting would “advance detailed planning” on reopening the strait following “progress” at talks in Paris last week.

CNN

Fox News similarly said “Military planners from more than 30 countries will meet in London” and that the talks, set for April 22, would focus on advancing plans to restore access to the “critical global waterway” once conditions allow.

CNN said the UK and France would convene military planners from over 30 nations in London on Wednesday, and quoted John Healey saying, “The task, today and tomorrow, is to translate the diplomatic consensus into a joint plan to safeguard freedom of navigation in the Strait and support a lasting ceasefire.”

The New York Times reported that the threat of Iranian attacks had “throttled shipping traffic through the strait,” and that the U.S. Navy said it had forced “28 ships to turn around.”

The Guardian added that the U.S. Treasury secretary Scott Bessent warned that “Constraining Iran’s maritime trade directly targets the regime’s primary revenue lifelines,” and that the U.S. would continue to apply “maximum pressure through Economic Fury.”

Al Jazeera reported that “With the naval siege persisting, it is unclear whether the extension of the truce will be enough to bring Iran to the negotiating table in Islamabad,” and it quoted Abbas Araghchi calling blockading Iranian ports an “act of war.”