by Dave DeCamp
April 21, 2026
President Trump said on Tuesday afternoon that he will extend the ceasefire with Iran, a statement that came hours before its expiration and after he said that he wouldn’t extend the truce.
Trump made a statement in a post on Truth Social where he also said that the US military blockade on Iranian ports would continue despite Iranian officials maintaining that talks won’t resume until it is lifted.
“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 said.
“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,” he added.
Earlier in the day, in an interview with CNBC, Trump insisted that he still expects the US to make a “great deal” with Iran but said that time was running out. When asked if he would allow the ceasefire to continue if there was diplomatic progress but no agreement, he said, “Well, I don’t want to do that. We don’t have that much time.”
Trump said that the US has used the ceasefire to “restock” its military and insisted that Iran’s military has been destroyed, though according to US officials speaking to The New York Times, US intelligence assesses that Tehran likely has access to the majority of its missiles and launchers.
The president was then asked if he would resume bombing Iran if a deal isn’t reached on Tuesday or Wednesday, and said, “Well, I expect to be bombing because I think that’s a better attitude to go in with. But we’re ready to go. I mean, the military is raring to go.”
Vice President JD Vance, US envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner were expected to travel to Pakistan on Tuesday for talks with Iran, but Iranian officials held firm that the negotiations wouldn’t happen unless the US ends the blockade.
“Blockading Iranian ports is an act of war and thus a violation of the ceasefire,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X on Tuesday. “Striking a commercial vessel and taking its crew hostage is an even greater violation. Iran knows how to neutralize restrictions, how to defend its interests, and how to resist bullying.”
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