US President Donald Trump has extended the ceasefire with Iran indefinitely following a request from mediators in Pakistan, in a move aimed at giving Iran’s leadership more time to unify its position and propose a path toward ending the ongoing seven-week conflict.
The announcement came just hours before the initial two-week ceasefire, declared on April 8, was set to expire. It also disrupted plans for a US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance to travel to Islamabad for discussions involving Iranian representatives.
The delegation, which included US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, was scheduled to depart on Tuesday, but the White House confirmed that the visit had been postponed.
Trump said the decision followed appeals from Pakistan’s leadership, including Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who requested more time due to divisions within Iran’s political leadership.
However, the US president maintained that while military action is on hold, economic pressure on Iran will continue. He confirmed that the blockade of Iranian ports remains in place under his directive.
Reacting to the development, Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi criticized the move, calling the blockade an act of war and a violation of the ceasefire agreement. He added that Iran remains capable of resisting external pressure and safeguarding its national interests.
