US President Donald Trump extended the truce with Iran “until Tehran presents a proposal to end the war.” The announcement came hours before the end of the ceasefire deadline, in light of the continued US naval blockade and the exchange of accusations of violating the agreement and a naval escalation. Pakistan confirmed that it will continue its efforts to advance peace talks, while pressures continue inside Iran and the war on the Lebanese front, as Lebanon prepares for a new round of talks under American sponsorship amid an urgent humanitarian need and anticipation of the fate of the ceasefire with Israel.

Published on: 04/22/2026 - 04:28 Last updated: 04/22/2026 - 09:45

To view this content from YouTube, it is necessary to allow the collection of viewing rates and YouTube ads.

It appears that an application in your Internet browser is preventing the video player from loading. In order to view this content, you must cancel its use.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday extended the declared truce with Iran, hours before the end of the ceasefire deadline, after Tehran once again threatened to target oil production in the Gulf states if attacks on its territory were launched from the territories of its neighbors.

The decision came despite the fact that the two parties presented different dates for the end of the truce, as the Iranian official media set it at midnight on Tuesday, Greenwich Mean Time, while Trump linked it to Wednesday evening, Washington time.

Trump announced on the Truth Social platform that he would continue to suspend offensive operations “until Iran presents a proposal to end the war,” but at the same time he confirmed that he had issued orders to the army to continue the naval blockade of Iranian ports.

In parallel, the White House canceled a trip that Vice President J.D. Vance was supposed to take to Pakistan for the second round of peace talks, saying only that any updates regarding the direct meetings would be announced later.

Trump attributed his decision to the "sharp division" within the Iranian leadership, explaining that the suspension came in response to the request of Pakistani Army Commander Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif to provide an opportunity for Tehran to present a unified position.

Read also: Macron confirms France’s support for Lebanon’s unity and territorial sovereignty, and Salam demands a “complete” withdrawal of Israeli forces

On the other hand, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei justified his country’s failure to decide to participate in the talks with “contradictory messages, behaviors, and unacceptable actions” from the American side, while the two sides had exchanged accusations of violating the ceasefire since the first round of dialogue in Islamabad, which was followed by escalatory steps. Most notably, the US blockade on ports and Iran’s re-closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

"act of war"

On the “X” platform, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi described the American blockade of the ports as an “act of war” and a clear violation of the ceasefire, pledging that Iran “knows how to transcend restrictions, defend its interests, and resist intimidation.”

In a parallel context, the US Department of Defense said that it had stopped and searched a sanctioned ship linked to Iran at an undisclosed location, “without incident,” while Tehran asked the United Nations to condemn the detention of the Iranian cargo ship “Tosca.”

The move was considered "piracy" and an escalation that threatens the security of shipping lanes, according to Ambassador Amir Saeed Erwani's message to the Security Council and the Secretary-General.

Tightening the screws

Iranian officials confirm that the Trump administration is strict with “exaggerated” demands and does not show good faith in the negotiations, while citizens of Tehran convey a bleak picture of their daily lives in light of the tightening security grip and the repercussions of the war.

Sagar (39 years old) says, “There is no light at the end of the tunnel, the economic situation is catastrophic, arrests are without cause, and executions are increasing,” while the markets record a decline in oil prices and a rise in stock exchange shares, with investors betting on the possibility of reaching a political agreement.

In Pakistan, the authorities intensified their security measures in the capital, Islamabad, deploying police and army forces around the “Serena” Hotel, which hosted the recent negotiating rounds, and asked its guests to evacuate it. They also tightened restrictions in the rest of the regions while preparing for the possibility of closure. Schools and universities moved to distance learning this week, and trucks and heavy vehicles were prevented from entering the city, at a time when Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar called on the parties to “extend the ceasefire and give dialogue and diplomacy a chance.”

Lebanese Front

In a related context, the United States is preparing to host a new round of talks between Israel and Lebanon on Thursday, in an attempt to advance the path of understanding on the northern front.

A ceasefire takes effect between Hezbollah and Israel after the war expanded in support of Iran, leading to the death of 2,454 people and the displacement of more than a million, according to official figures.

For his part, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stressed from Paris that Lebanon needs 500 million euros to confront the humanitarian crisis, while Hezbollah and its allies reject any direct negotiations with Israel or disarmament. The party announced on Tuesday the targeting of northern Israel in response to what it described as “flagrant violations” of the ceasefire.

France 24/AFP

Keywords related to the article

The content you want to browse is no longer in service or is currently unavailable.