Trump Extends Iran Ceasefire Despite Calling Off Negotiations

Topline President Donald Trump said Tuesday he would extend the U.S. ceasefire with Iran, which is set to expire Wednesday, despite calling off negotiations and warning earlier in the day he would resume bombing without a deal in place. Key Facts Trump said “we have been asked to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal,” he wrote on Truth Social, adding that he’s directed the military to continue its blockade of Iranian ports and vessels. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reiterated Trump’s comments that the U.S. will continue blocking Iranian ports, saying the U.S. Treasury will “systematically degrade Tehran’s ability to generate, move, and repatriate funds” and that efforts from any person or vessel to curb the blockade “risks exposure to U.S. sanctions.” Vice President JD Vance called off a planned trip to Pakistan Tuesday for peace talks after Iran didn’t respond to the U.S.’s proposal, an unnamed U.S. official told The New York Times. Trump said earlier Tuesday he expected Iran to make a deal, but if they didn’t the U.S. military was “raring to go” to resume strikes, he told CNBC. The president separately accused Iran on Tuesday of making “numerous” ceasefire violations but that he expected the country to make a “great deal.” Tangent U.S. military forces seized a ship Tuesday that was bound for Iran and carrying “a gift from China,” Trump claimed. It is not clear if the president was referring to a ship seized by the U.S. on Sunday that was coming from China and likely carrying military gear, according to Reuters. Crucial Quote Esmaeil Baqaei, a spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry, said this week the U.S. blockade of the Strait is a “war crime” for “deliberately inflicting collective punishment” on Iranian civilians. Key Background The ceasefire with Iran, which has been filled with allegations of both sides breaking the conditions, was struck on April 8 after Trump threatened massive strikes against Iran and said a “whole civilization will die tonight.” Iran first accused the U.S. and Israel of breaking the ceasefire after Israel launched strikes against Lebanon, which has technically been at war with Israel for over 75 years. Vance claimed Lebanon was not part of the ceasefire with Iran. Not long after, a 10-day ceasefire was reached between Israel and Lebanon, potentially improving U.S.-Iran peace talks. Iran’s enriched uranium is at the heart of the country’s negotiations with the U.S., which seeks to have a 20-year suspension on uranium enrichment. Iran offered a five-year suspension during peace talks last week.