Trump Extends US-Iran Ceasefire Indefinitely
US President Donald Trump has decided to extend the ceasefire with Iran indefinitely. This decision was taken only a few hours before the previous ceasefire was due to expire, in order to provide space for the continuation of peace negotiations between the two countries.
In a statement on social media, Trump said the step was taken following a request from Pakistan, which has been acting as a mediator in the negotiation process.
“I have approved Pakistan’s request ‘to hold our strikes against the Iranian state until its leaders and representatives can put together a unified proposal’,” Trump said on Tuesday (21/4/2026) local time, as reported by Reuters.
He added that the ceasefire, which has been in place for two weeks, would remain extended until Iran submits its official proposal and the talks are concluded, “one way or another.”
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked US President Donald Trump for accepting his country’s request to extend the ceasefire in the US-Israel war in Iran, allowing ongoing diplomatic efforts to proceed as planned.
“I very much hope that both sides will continue to adhere to the ceasefire and be able to conclude a comprehensive ‘Peace Agreement’ during the second round of talks scheduled in Islamabad to end the conflict permanently,” Sharif said in a post on X.
This decision is the latest development in the dynamics of a conflict that has killed thousands and shaken the global economy. The move is also seen as a change in Trump’s stance, who previously repeatedly issued harsh threats to attack Iran’s civilian infrastructure, including power plants.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, along with several other parties, had previously emphasised that international humanitarian law prohibits attacks on such civilian targets.
To date, there has been no official response from Iran or Israel regarding the ceasefire extension decision.
Trump, who along with Israel launched military operations against Iran since 28 February, said one reason behind his decision was Iran’s internal instability.
“The Iranian government is very divided, which is not surprising,” he said, referring to a series of assassinations of key state figures by joint US-Israeli operations, including the previous supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has now been replaced by his son.
Although the ceasefire has been extended, Trump emphasised that the US Navy’s naval blockade of Iranian ports and coastal areas would continue. This step had previously been condemned by Iranian leaders as an act of war.
The blockade has also been one of the main issues complicating peace talks, especially when both countries were once hesitant about sending delegations to the second round of negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital.
The decision to extend the ceasefire was taken just a few hours after Trump stated he was not inclined to continue the temporary agreement. He even said that the US military was “fully combat-ready.”
In an interview with CNBC, Trump also stressed that the US position in the negotiations is very strong and optimistic about achieving a favourable deal.
He said Washington would ultimately get what he described as “a great deal.”