President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House. AP
Trump posted on social media that he would "extend the Ceasefire" until Iran came up with a proposal to end the conflict. However, he "directed our Military to continue the Blockade."
Trump's ceasefire extension came hours before it was believed to be set to expire.
It also came as the White House said Vice President JD Vance would not be going to Pakistan for what had been expected to be a second round of peace talks.
The US president cast the breakdown in more talks as resulting from Iranian infighting, adding that Pakistan's leaders had asked him to extend the truce.
"Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, 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," Trump posted on his Truth Social site.
But the blockade of ports on Iran's coast in the Strait of Hormuz will remain in place, Trump said, while the US military will "in all other respects, remain ready and able."
The ceasefire, he said, will be extended "until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other."
Tehran defiant
Earlier, Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported that the Iranian delegation would not travel to Islamabad for talks, citing U.S. "intransigence", "failure to honour its commitments" and "excessive demands".
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi denounced the U.S. blockade of the country’s ports as "an act of war and therefore a violation of the ceasefire", adding that Iran knows how to "resist intimidation".
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards threatened to resume strikes towards Gulf countries if Iran is attacked again.
“Our neighbours to the south must know that if their territory and facilities are used by enemies to attack the Iranian nation, they can say goodbye to oil production in the Middle East,” they warned.
From his side, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked US President Donald Trump for agreeing to his request to extend the ceasefire and said Islamabad would continue to play a mediating role.
“Pakistan shall continue its earnest efforts for negotiated settlement of conflict. I sincerely hope that both sides will continue to observe the ceasefire and be able to conclude a comprehensive ‘Peace Deal’ during the second round of talks scheduled at Islamabad for a permanent end to the conflict.,” the prime minister wrote on his X account.
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