President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social Tuesday that both a ceasefire and a blockade on Iran would remain in place for the time being.
Trump announced a two-week pause in military strikes April 7 hours before a deadline for the Iranian regime to agree to a series of terms expired. Vice President J.D. Vance had been slated to depart for Pakistan for talks Tuesday but had not left Washington, D.C., as the negotiations were delayed, The New York Times reported.
“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 until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal,” Trump posted. “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.”
Iran’s leadership was reportedly divided on whether to continue peace talks, Axios reported, with some sources saying that the Iranian delegation might not depart as the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was demanding that the U.S.’s blockade be lifted before negotiations could continue.
Trump imposed the blockade on April 12 after Iran imposed a toll on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The president earlier Tuesday indicated he wouldn’t extend the ceasefire, before reversing course later in the day.
Iran declared it would allow passage of 12 ships per day that paid a $1 per barrel toll in either Chinese yuan or cryptocurrency April 9, announcing that it had laid mines.
Shortly after the April 7 ceasefire, hostilities nearly resumed after an April 8 wave of Israeli strikes targeted Hezbollah, a proxy group of Iran in Lebanon. Trump announced Israel and Lebanon had reached a ceasefire agreement on April 16.
“I just had excellent conversations with the Highly Respected President Joseph Aoun, of Lebanon, and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel,” Trump said. “These two Leaders have agreed that in order to achieve PEACE between their Countries, they will formally begin a 10 Day CEASEFIRE at 5 P.M. EST. On Tuesday, the two Countries met for the first time in 34 years here in Washington, D.C., with our Great Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.”
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