Trump hints at ceasefire extension as Pakistan moves to salvage ‘Islamabad Talks 2.0’

• Donald Trump says he extended ceasefire, orders military to maintain blockade posture, following his warning US ‘ready to go back’ to war if no deal by Wednesday deadline

• Claims move made after request from Pakistan’s leadership including Field Marshal Asim Munir and PM Shehbaz Sharif

• Truth Social post says Iran must present ‘unified proposal’ for talks to proceed

• Trump earlier rejects ceasefire extension, insists US in ‘strong negotiating position’

• Washington confident talks may proceed as Iran signals it is still considering participation

• Ceasefire deadline set for 4:50am PST April 22 as diplomatic race intensifies

 Staff Report/Agencies

WASHINGTON/TEHRAN/ISLAMABAD: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he would extend the ceasefire with Iran and directed the military to maintain a “blockade posture,” even as he earlier warned that Washington could “go back” to war if no deal is reached by Wednesday, amid intensified diplomatic efforts by Pakistan to secure the second round of “Islamabad Talks.”

In a statement on Truth Social, Trump said: “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.”

🚨 pic.twitter.com/7dXfz9afth

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 21, 2026

He added: “I have therefore directed our Military to continue the Blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able, and will therefore extend the Ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other.”

Earlier on Tuesday, in an interview with CNBC, the US president said he did not want to extend the ceasefire, stressing that Washington remained in a strong negotiating position and expected what he called a “great deal.”

.@JoeSquawk: "You're saying that you need at least the prospects for a signed deal today and tomorrow or else you would resume bombing Iran?"@POTUS: "Well, I expect to be bombing because I think that's a better attitude to go in with — but we're ready to go." pic.twitter.com/vEmOfes6Er

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 21, 2026

“I am ready to go” back to war with Iran “if no deal is reached by the end of the ceasefire” on Wednesday, he said, adding: “I don’t want to do that. We don’t have that much time.”

Trump said the US would resume military action if no agreement is reached, even as Washington expressed confidence that talks with Iran would proceed in Pakistan. A senior Iranian official, however, indicated that Tehran was still considering participation.

Amid uncertainty over last-minute diplomacy, Trump maintained that Iran must engage seriously in negotiations. SEE: US aircraft refuel as they enforce naval blockade of Iranian ports

A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker refuels a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon during the U.S. blockade against ships entering or exiting Iranian ports. The P-8 can provide surveillance for extended periods, scanning vast waterways from high altitude. pic.twitter.com/p4Qi6tSkSn

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 21, 2026

Meanwhile, Pakistan has intensified diplomatic efforts to facilitate the second round of talks. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Islamabad was in continuous contact with Tehran, but a formal response from Iran was still awaited.

“Pakistan remains in constant touch with the Iranian side, but a formal response from Tehran regarding participation in the Islamabad Peace Talks had not been received as of 7:30pm PST,” he said on X.

The situation as it stands at 1930 PST

1. Formal response from Iranian side about confirmation of delegation to attend Islamabad Peace Talks is still awaited.

2. ⁠Pakistan as the mediator is in constant touch with Iranians and pursuing the path of diplomacy and dialogue.

3.…

— Attaullah Tarar (@TararAttaullah) April 21, 2026

He warned that time was running short, noting that the ceasefire is set to expire at 4:50am PST on April 22. “A decision from Iran to attend the talks before the end of the two-week ceasefire is critical,” he said, adding that Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach is ongoing.

 Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf said Tehran has “new cards on the battlefield” that haven’t yet been revealed.

“I expect to be bombing because I think that’s a better attitude to go in with. But we’re ready to go. I mean, the military is raring to go,” he said.

Pakistan has urged both the United States and Iran to extend their two-week ceasefire, Pakistan's foreign ministry said in a ⁠statement on Tuesday.

In a meeting with the US charge d’affaires in Pakistan, Natalie ⁠A. Baker, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stressed the need for engagement between the US and Iran, and said Pakistan urged both sides ⁠to ⁠consider extending the ceasefire, a statement from the foreign ministry said.

U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Natalie A. Baker called on Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 today. Discussions covered recent regional developments.

DPM/FM underscored Pakistan’s consistent emphasis on dialogue and diplomacy as the only… pic.twitter.com/1Roqj3R1gE

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) April 21, 2026

Regional officials have told The Associated Press that both the US and Iran are sending their top negotiators to Pakistan for round two peace talks as the fragile ceasefire is set to expire.

Pakistan-led mediators have received confirmation that Qalibaf and US Vice President JD Vance are expected to arrive in Islamabad early Wednesday, the regional officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief reporters.

Also on Tuesday, Iranian state TV said a ceasefire with the US in force since April 8 would expire at 3:30 am Wednesday, Tehran time (00:00 GMT).

The timing is consistent with when the 14-day truce went into effect, though US President Donald Trump recently said it would end a day later, on Wednesday evening Washington time. Mediator Pakistan, meanwhile, has said the ceasefire will end at 23:50 GMT Tuesday.

 White House defers to Trump on ceasefire timing, but statements remain inconsistent

Trump certainly believes he has the upper hand in negotiations. He has said so repeatedly and stated again and again that the US has already won the war.

.@POTUS on Iran: "I think we're in a very strong negotiating position to do what other Presidents should've done during a 47-year period — 47 years with these bloodthirsty people." pic.twitter.com/6rBWPdZQeB

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 21, 2026

He insists that the nuclear dust, as he puts it – the reactive chemical, the nuclear munitions that the Iranians say have for peaceful purposes – has all been destroyed by the bombers. But at the same time, he insists that he will continue with this war even though he says he has already won it.

But as to what people within the White House think, well, that’s very difficult because they refer everything to what the president thinks.

One very brief example: In the course of the day, we’ve been trying to ascertain is exactly what time the ceasefire ends. The president himself has given four different timings for when it should end.

The White House is telling us all the time, “just follow the words of the president”. Well, we follow the words of the president, but then it’s very difficult to find out exactly which words to follow, including exactly what time he has specified for the ceasefire to end.

Iran commander threatens to destroy Gulf oil industry if war resumes

General Majid Mousavi, aerospace chief for the IRGC, said in comments on Iranian media that it would be a mistake to carry out more “aggression” against Iran.

He also said the Gulf region’s oil facilities would be harmed if neighbouring countries allow the United States to carry out attacks.

“If southern neighbours allow the enemy to use their facilities to attack Iran, they should say goodbye to oil production in the Middle East region,” said Mousavi.

The US has bases and troops in several countries across the Gulf.

  About 20,000 sailors trapped in the Gulf during maritime attacks

At least 10 seafarers have been killed and several more severely wounded in a series of attacks on commercial vessels around the Gulf since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran.

Natasha Brown, a spokesperson from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), said the agency has confirmed 25 attacks on commercial shipping since February 28. Hundreds of ships have been stranded in the Gulf since.

“Around 20,000 civilian seafarers remain aboard vessels in the Persian Gulf, facing dwindling supplies, fatigue, and severe psychological stress,” Brown said.

Following an extraordinary council session in March, the IMO said it is working with “relevant states on the development of a safe passage framework” to evacuate stranded crews while coordinating access to supplies.