Washington — President Trump is extending the ceasefire in the war with Iran until talks between the U.S. and Iran are “concluded,” he announced Tuesday, despite previously saying he wouldn’t extend the deadline.
The president said he is granting the ceasefire extension at Pakistan’s request, and blamed Iran’s “seriously fractured” government for the delay. He said he is giving Iranian officials more time to “come up with a unified proposal.”
“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,” the president posted on Truth Social Tuesday afternoon.
Iran has not publicly reacted to the president’s extension.
The two-week ceasefire was originally set to expire Tuesday night, but Mr. Trump has said in recent days it would end Wednesday night. Mr. Trump said previously that he wasn’t inclined to extend the ceasefire, and that the U.S.’s bombing campaign against Iran would resume upon its conclusion.
Asked on CNBC Tuesday morning whether he would allow the ceasefire to continue if talks are going well, the president said, “I don’t want to do that. We don’t have that much time.”
“Well, I expect to be bombing, because I think that’s a better attitude to go in with,” he told CNBC. “But we’re ready to go. I mean, the military is raring to go.”
This is a breaking story; it will be updated.