President Donald Trump said Tuesday he is extending a ceasefire with Iran while keeping a blockade of Iranian ports in place.
The decision comes as the United States and Iran were expected to hold a second round of peace talks this week, but those discussions now appear to be on hold. Trump cited what he described as a fractured Iranian government.
"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 stated on Truth Social.
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Iran, meanwhile, said it would not attend talks in Pakistan, calling them a “waste of time” because the United States was blocking a “suitable agreement.”
Trump has not said how long the ceasefire will last, only that the United States would await a proposal before talks resume. The original ceasefire was set to expire Wednesday.
Trump has repeatedly said Iran must abandon its nuclear ambitions, a demand Tehran has long rejected. The status of the Strait of Hormuz also remains a key issue. The vital shipping lane, which carries about 20% of the world’s oil and natural gas, was closed by Iran after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Feb. 28.
The disruption has pushed oil prices up more than 30% since the conflict began, with U.S. gas prices hovering above $4 per gallon.
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