Washington, United States. U.S. President Donald Trump said he would indefinitely extend the ceasefire with Iran to allow for further peace talks, though it was not clear if Iran or Israel would agree.
Ceasefire extension and Pakistan’s role
Trump said in a social media statement that the United States had agreed to a request by Pakistani mediators “to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal … and discussions are concluded, one way or the other.”
Pakistan’s leaders have hosted peace talks in Islamabad aimed at ending a war that has killed thousands of people and shaken the global economy.
Blockade to remain in place
As he announced what appeared to be a unilateral ceasefire extension, Trump also said he would continue the U.S. Navy’s blockade of Iran’s trade by sea, which Iran considers an act of war.
Iranian reactions
There was no response early on Wednesday from senior Iranian officials.
Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, said Iran had not asked for a ceasefire extension and repeated threats to break the U.S. blockade by force. An adviser to Iran’s lead negotiator, parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, said Trump’s announcement carried little weight and may be a ploy.
Rhetoric and warnings about attacks
Trump’s wartime rhetoric has shifted, including an expletive-filled threat against Iran two weeks ago and statements indicating a desire to end violence and market uncertainty.
The announcement came after Trump pulled back from threats to bomb Iran’s power plants and bridges. United Nations Secretary General António Guterres and others condemned those threats, citing international humanitarian law prohibitions on attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Background to the conflict
The United States and Israel began the war on February 28 with aerial bombardments of Iran. The conflict spread to Gulf states hosting U.S. military bases and to Lebanon after the Iran-allied militant group Hezbollah joined the fighting.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has for decades sought to oust Iran’s leadership, while Trump has offered shifting rationales for joining Israel in launching the war and for how he foresees it ending, contributing to confusion in global markets.
Do you think Iran and Israel will agree to an indefinite extension of the ceasefire?