Trump heeds CDF Munir, PM's truce call
US President Donald Trump on late Tuesday night announced an extension of the ongoing ceasefire with Iran, saying the decision was taken following a request from Pakistan's top leadership and to allow Tehran time to present a unified proposal for a permanent resolution to the conflict.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the truce, which was set to expire within hours, would remain in place until Iran submits a comprehensive plan and negotiations reach a definitive outcome.
"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," Trump wrote.
He added that the US military had been directed to maintain pressure on Iran while avoiding immediate escalation.
"I have directed the American military to continue the blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able," he said.
Trump indicated that the extension was conditional and temporary, aimed at creating space for diplomacy amid signs of internal divisions within Iran's leadership.
Reacting to the announcement, an advisor to Iran's parliament speaker and top negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said US President Donald Trump's ceasefire extension is a "ploy to buy time" for a surprise strike.
Qalibaf's advisor said in a post on X that the continuation of the US blockade on Iranian ports was "no different from bombardment and must be met with a military response".
Iran's Tasnim news agency quoting Iranian officials as said: If the US wants to maintain the shadow of war, it should consider the Strait of Hormuz effectively fully closed.
"Continuation of a naval blockade amounts to continued hostility; as long as the blockade persists, Iran will at least not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and if necessary, it will break the blockade by force."
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked the US president for extending the ceasefire. "On my personal behalf and on behalf of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, I sincerely thank President Trump for graciously accepting our request to extend the ceasefire to allow ongoing diplomatic efforts to take their course," he wrote in a post on X.
"With the trust and confidence reposed in, Pakistan shall continue its earnest efforts for negotiated settlement of conflict.
"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."
The development comes at a critical juncture, with diplomatic efforts intensifying to convert the fragile truce into a broader agreement.
Pakistan has been actively facilitating backchannel contacts between Washington and Tehran, seeking to prevent further escalation and push both sides toward a negotiated settlement.
Earlier, Tehran expressed its reluctance to confirm its particpation in the peace efforts that prompted the US delegation led by Vice President to postpone its departure for Islamabad on Tuesday.
The lack of clarity has disrupted diplomatic momentum, with the American team yet to leave Washington despite extensive preparations for the talks scheduled for Wednesday.
The US delegation was scheduled to depart for Islamabad on Tuesday evening Pakistan time but Iran's refusal to dispatch its team put the process in jeopardy.
As of 7:30pm Pakistan Standard Time, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Islamabad was still awaiting a formal response from Tehran regarding the composition and arrival of its delegation.
"Formal response from the Iranian side about confirmation of delegation to attend Islamabad Peace Talks is still awaited," Tarar said, adding that Pakistan, as mediator, remains in constant contact with Iranian authorities and continues to pursue diplomacy and dialogue.
The two-week ceasefire was set to expire at 4:50am PST on April 22, though conflicting timelines have now emerged, adding to the confusion.
While Pakistan maintains the ceasefire ends early Wednesday morning, Iranian officials suggest the truce could last nearly 24 hours longer. US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, has vaguely indicated the ceasefire would end "Wednesday evening," leaving no clear consensus on the exact deadline.
The situation grew more complicated on Tuesday with emerging controversy over US actions at sea and Iran's preconditions for talks.
Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, indicated that Tehran had received signals suggesting Washington might be willing to lift its naval blockade.
He said the next round of talks could take place in Islamabad once that happens, reiterating Iran's position that talks cannot proceed under military pressure.
Tehran has consistently maintained that any negotiations must not take place under what it calls the "shadow of threats," particularly referring to the reported US naval presence around the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi further escalated the rhetoric, describing any blockade of Iranian ports as "tantamount to war" and a violation of the ceasefire.
In a statement, he also warned that targeting commercial vessels or detaining their crews would constitute an even more serious breach.
"Iran knows how to neutralise sanctions, defend its interests and respond to pressure," he said, signaling Tehran's readiness for both diplomacy and confrontation.
Diplomatic sources in Islamabad said Pakistan has intensified efforts to persuade Tehran to join the process and prevent a collapse of the fragile truce.
The Foreign Office reiterated that Pakistan remains committed to facilitating engagement between the two sides, stressing that dialogue and diplomacy are the only viable path forward.
Meanwhile, confusion also persists in Washington over the status of the US delegation's travel plans.
Reports citing US officials suggested that Vice President JD Vance's visit had been postponed after Iran failed to respond to the American negotiating position. However, there has been no formal announcement from the White House on whether the trip has been indefinitely delayed.
What is clear, however, is that Vance has not departed. US media reported that he remained in Washington attending policy meetings at the White House, with no indication of an imminent visit to Islamabad.
Ishaq Dar
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with envoys of several countries and discussed regional developments.
In his meeting with US Chargé d'Affaires Natalie Baker, Dar stressed that talks were the only "viable way" to address the current challenges.
"FM Dar emphasized Pakistan's consistent focus on dialogue and diplomacy as the only viable means to address challenges and achieve lasting regional peace and stability," a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said.
The statement also mentioned that "FM Dar stressed the need for engagement between the United States and Iran, urging both sides to consider extending the ceasefire and to give diplomacy a chance".
The statement noted that Natalie conveyed the US's appreciation for Pakistan's "constructive and positive role" in promoting regional peace and facilitating dialogue.
Earlier, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong expressed Beijing's full support for Islamabad's diplomatic efforts aimed at facilitating engagement between the US and Iran during a meeting with Foreign Minister Dar.
The ministry on X said, Zaidong discussed regional developments and conveyed China's "full support for and appreciation of Pakistan's continued efforts to facilitate engagement between the US and Iran for sustained peace and stability in the region and beyond".
The statement said discussions also focused on the latest regional situation. Dar reaffirmed the PakistanChina "All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership", underlining the strength of bilateral ties.
"He also emphasised the importance of continued high-level exchanges between the two countries," it added.
Dar also spoke with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on Tuesday evening, discussing the latest regional developments, the Foreign Office said.
The two sides emphasised the importance of dialogue and engagement for achieving lasting peace and stability in the region.
"The two leaders discussed the latest regional developments and emphasised the importance of dialogue and engagement for achieving lasting peace and stability," the FO said in a statement.
It added that the Saudi foreign minister reiterated the Kingdom's support for Pakistan's continued efforts in this regard.
Both sides agreed to remain in close contact, it concluded.
Separately, Dar also held a telephone conversation with Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty to discuss the latest regional developments.
According to MoFA, both ministers "emphasised the importance of dialogue and engagement for peace and stability" during their discussion.
It added that the two sides agreed to remain in close contact as part of ongoing diplomatic coordination on regional issues.
FM Dar has received unprecedented international recognition for his diplomatic leadership, as Pakistan positioned itself at the centre of high-stakes mediation efforts during the escalating Iran-US-Israel crisis.
Over the past week, senior officials and influential voices from more than ten countries, including Saudi Arabia, Iran, the US, China, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, and Uzbekistan, have publicly acknowledged Dar's role in facilitating ceasefire negotiations.
Pakistan emerged as a central facilitator in the sensitive diplomatic track, positioning itself as an "honest broker" amid sharply polarised positions between Washington and Tehran.
After 40 days of airstrikes, US and Iranian negotiators opened talks in Islamabad earlier this month, again focused on the familiar trade off of nuclear restrictions for economic relief.
When American and Iranian negotiators met last weekend in Islamabad, the US proposed a 20-year suspension of all Iranian nuclear activity, while Iran suggested a halt of three to five years, according to people familiar with the proposals.
The second round of talks has yet to formally begin in Islamabad, while Pakistan has further ramped up efforts for a successful deal. However, there are still hurdles in the negotiations, with issues persisting on both sides.