What Trump said after extending ceasefire with Iran, what Iran said?
After unilaterally extending the ceasefire with Iran, US President Donald Trump has said that Iran is economically collapsing.
On Wednesday, he wrote on social media: "Iran is running out of funds and, therefore, wants to open the Strait of Hormuz immediately."
He claimed that, due to the blockade, Iran is suffering daily losses of approximately $500 million. Iran's military and police are not receiving their salaries on time, and economic pressure within the country is mounting.
It is noteworthy that this time, Trump did not specify how long the ceasefire would last. Earlier this month, he had set a two-week timeframe for the initial ceasefire.
Talks can only take place after the blockade is lifted: Iran
However, Iran's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, has stated that talks with the United States can only take place after the blockade is lifted.
Amidst the extension of the ceasefire, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a stern statement.
The IRGC stated that tensions are escalating in the region, and consequently, their forces remain on high alert. They warned that should any attack occur, they would respond with overwhelming force.
Meanwhile, the IRGC opened fire on a container ship off the coast of Oman. It claims that the vessel had disregarded warnings.
A day filled with diplomatic upheavals in Washington
Earlier, Tuesday was a day filled with diplomatic upheavals in Washington, the US capital.
The US aircraft Air Force Two was poised to transport Vice President J.D. Vance to Islamabad, where a new round of talks between the United States and Iran had been scheduled. However, even after several hours, the aircraft failed to take off, and the negotiations stalled.
Vance never officially announced his visit to Islamabad, leaving a sense of uncertainty lingering in Washington. Concurrently, Iran had not yet formally consented to participate in the talks; this presented the White House with a difficult decision: whether or not to dispatch Vance, given that there was no guarantee Tehran would actually come to the negotiating table.
As the day progressed, signs that the talks would be postponed began to emerge. Senior members of the US negotiating team led by Vance—specifically Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner—returned to Washington from Miami instead of proceeding directly to Islamabad.
Shortly thereafter, Vance arrived at the White House for policy meetings, where the President and his senior advisors were deliberating on the path forward.
Decision taken at the request of Pakistan: Trump
Ultimately, Trump announced the extension of the ceasefire on Truth Social. The President stated that he took this decision at the request of Pakistan, which has been mediating in the talks between Iran and the United States.
Trump said, "We have been asked to hold off on our attack on Iran until its leaders and representatives come forward with a joint proposal."
Trump stated that he made this decision at the request of Pakistani Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Trump wrote, "Pakistan's Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have requested that the attack on Iran be held off until their leaders and representatives come forward with a joint proposal."
Shehbaz Sharif expressess gratitude to Trump
Following this announcement by Trump, Shehbaz Sharif also expressed his gratitude to him. Shehbaz Sharif wrote on the social media platform X, "I sincerely thank President Trump for acceding to our request and extending the ceasefire, so that diplomatic efforts may proceed."
Sharif stated, "Pakistan will continue to strive to find a solution through dialogue, with trust and confidence. I hope that both sides will observe the ceasefire and be able to reach a lasting 'peace agreement' during the second round of talks to be held in Islamabad, thereby bringing an end to the conflict once and for all."
This occurred at a time when his statements appeared contradictory. On one hand, he remarked that the negotiations were progressing well; yet, he simultaneously warned that if Iran refused to engage in talks, he would consider resuming military action.