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Informist, Wednesday, Apr. 22, 2026

NEW DELHI – US President Donald Trump early Wednesday extended the ceasefire with Iran until the latter submitted a proposal, or until discussions between the two countries were concluded. The US and Iran had agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Apr. 8, which was set to expire early Thursday, India time. Trump said his decision was prompted by a request from Pakistani mediators. 

"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 said in a post on Truth Social. 

He added that the US military would continue its blockade of Iranian ports. "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," he said.

It was not immediately clear if Iran or Israel, the US's ally in the war that started late February, have agreed to Trump's decision to extend the ceasefire. However, Mahdi Mohammadi, adviser to Iran's parliament speaker, denounced the ceasefire extension, saying it "means nothing". "The losing side cannot set the terms. Continuing the siege is no different from bombing and must be responded to militarily," he said in a post on X. "Trump's extension of the ceasefire certainly means buying time for a surprise strike. It is time for Iran to take the initiative." 

Meanwhile, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked Trump in a statement on social media for "graciously accepting our request to extend the ceasefire to allow ongoing diplomatic efforts to take their course." "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," Sharif wrote.  End

Reported by Pratiksha

Edited by Tanima Banerjee

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