The BRICS TimesUS President Donald Trump initially dismissed the idea of a ceasefire extension on Tuesday, claiming the United States held a dominant position in negotiations.
Hours after President Donald Trump told interviewers he would not extend the Iran ceasefire, he reversed his decision. He cited a request from Pakistan while waiting for a “unified proposal” from Tehran.
In a Tuesday interview with CNBC, Trump denied extension plans. He stated the US was in a strong spot and expected “a great deal.” “I don’t want to do that. We don’t have that much time,” Trump said regarding the ceasefire extension. However, Trump later announced the ceasefire would continue at Pakistan’s request. He noted that the US naval blockade of Iranian ports remains active. He clarified the pause lasts until Iran presents a unified proposal.
This extension happens as peace talks in Pakistan face growing uncertainty. The White House recently confirmed that JD Vance will not travel to Islamabad for the discussions.
Senior Iranian officials offered no immediate response to the late-night announcement. Initial reactions from Tehran, however, suggested local leaders view Trump’s comments with deep skepticism, per Reuters reports.
What Trump said earlier
Earlier, Trump insisted the US was ready to negotiate from strength. He firmly denied any intent to prolong the truce. “I don’t want to do that. We don’t have that much time,” Trump said. Trump also issued blunt warnings to the Iranian leadership. He suggested military action would follow if the ceasefire ended without a final resolution or a deal. “I expect to be bombing because I think that’s a better attitude to go in with,” Trump told CNBC.
What Trump said announcing ceasefire
Trump later changed course, citing requests from Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir and PM Shehbaz Sharif. He claimed the Iranian government currently appears “seriously fractured.” The President stated he was asked to pause attacks. This pause remains “until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal.” Despite the extension, Trump maintained a firm military stance. He confirmed the naval blockade continues and the US remains “ready and able” in all other respects.
How Iran reacted
Official Iranian responses are still pending. However, early signals from Tehran indicate the US announcement is being treated as a tactical maneuver.
The Tasnim News Agency, linked to the Revolutionary Guards, stated Iran never requested an extension. They also repeated threats to use force against the US blockade. Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf’s advisor dismissed the move as a potential ploy.
