US President Donald Trump has announced an extension of the ceasefire with Iran while maintaining a blockade around the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that Tehran is incurring heavy financial losses and must present a unified proposal before negotiations can proceed.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed Iran is losing an estimated $500 million per day in oil revenue due to the continued closure of the vital shipping route. He argued that although Iran publicly calls for the strait to remain closed, it ultimately wants it reopened to restore its income, accusing Tehran of attempting to “save face.”
Trump also warned that reopening the strait without a broader agreement would make any deal impossible, pairing the statement with a stark threat of escalation if negotiations fail.
Earlier, the US President said the ceasefire extension came at the request of Pakistan’s military chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He added that US forces would remain on standby while the blockade continues, pending a unified stance from Iran’s leadership.
Trump stated that divisions within the Iranian government have stalled progress and that the ceasefire would remain in place only until Tehran presents a consolidated proposal, after which talks would resume and be brought to a conclusion.
Iran, however, swiftly rejected the move. Senior official Mahdi Mohammadi dismissed the extension, arguing that the US was in no position to dictate terms following setbacks in the conflict. He warned that maintaining the blockade was equivalent to continued aggression and suggested Iran should respond militarily, while also cautioning that the ceasefire extension could be a tactic to buy time for further action.
Pakistan welcomed the development and positioned itself as a mediator in the conflict. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked Trump for accepting Islamabad’s request and expressed hope that both sides would uphold the ceasefire and work toward a lasting agreement.
Sharif also indicated that a second round of talks is scheduled to take place in Islamabad, with the aim of reaching a comprehensive peace deal and bringing a permanent end to hostilities.
The latest extension follows the collapse of earlier diplomatic efforts, after nearly 21 hours of negotiations in Islamabad failed to yield a breakthrough.
