...
By Amanda Castro
Associate News Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States will extend its ceasefire with Iran at the request of Pakistan, even as Tehran has yet to respond to Washington’s latest negotiating positions and high‑level diplomacy remains on hold.
In a statement, Trump said Pakistan’s military chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif asked Washington to delay further military action while Iranian leaders work to assemble a “unified proposal.” Trump said he has ordered the U.S. military to maintain its blockade of Iranian ports and remain prepared for renewed hostilities if talks fail.
“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,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Read More on World
Iran Ceasefire Extended: What We Know
Trump has extended the U.S. ceasefire with Iran, granting Pakistan‑led mediators more time to organize a new round of direct talks between Washington and Tehran. The move came just hours before the truce was set to expire, temporarily averting a return to open conflict but leaving major uncertainties unresolved.
Trump said he acted at the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who asked the United States to pause further military action while Iran’s leadership works to assemble a “unified proposal.” The president emphasized that the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports will remain in place and that American forces will stay on alert.
Two regional officials told the Associated Press that both sides had signaled readiness for another round of talks in Pakistan, with Vice President JD Vance and Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf expected to lead their delegations. But by late Tuesday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said no “final decision” had been made, blaming “contradictory messages” and “unacceptable actions” from Washington, particularly the blockade.
Vance’s planned trip to Islamabad was suspended as Pakistan scrambled to salvage the diplomatic track. Trump, announcing the extension, said Iran’s leadership was “seriously fractured” and needed more time to coordinate its position.
...
Why Is the US at War With Iran?
The war with Iran grew out of a volatile mix of failed diplomacy, long‑standing grievances, and a rapid escalation of military actions in early 2026. According to congressional and foreign‑policy analyses, the immediate trigger was a coordinated round of U.S. and Israeli strikes in February 2026, which targeted Iranian leadership, nuclear facilities and military infrastructure after negotiations broke down.
U.S. officials framed the operation as necessary to eliminate “imminent threats” from Iran, citing goals such as destroying Iran’s ballistic missile program, degrading its navy and drone capabilities, and preventing Tehran from ever acquiring a nuclear weapon. Some U.S. statements also suggested that weakening or even collapsing Iran’s leadership could be an outcome of the campaign.
These strikes did not emerge in a vacuum. Analysts note that the war sits atop decades of adversarial relations, including proxy conflicts, sanctions, cyberattacks, and earlier targeted killings that normalized military escalation as a policy tool. The long arc of confrontation—from the 1979 revolution to repeated crises over Iran’s nuclear program—created a landscape in which both sides viewed each other with deep suspicion.
The immediate diplomatic collapse in February 2026 also played a decisive role. Negotiations over Iran’s nuclear activities had stalled, with the United States demanding zero enrichment and Iran refusing to dismantle its program. A 10‑day ultimatum and a 60‑day negotiating window expired without agreement, giving Washington the pretext to move ahead with military action.
Israel’s involvement further accelerated events. Israeli leaders had been urging Washington for months to strike Iran’s missile and nuclear sites, and the two countries coordinated closely in the lead‑up to the February offensive. The joint operation killed Iran’s supreme leader and several senior officials, triggering widespread retaliation across the region and effectively ending any remaining diplomatic off‑ramps.
Since then, the conflict has expanded into a regional crisis. Iran has launched attacks on U.S. and allied targets, threatened shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, and used asymmetric tactics to pressure Washington. The United States and Israel have continued air operations, while global markets have been shaken by disruptions to oil and gas flows.
How the War Has Impacted Global Oil Prices?
The war has sent shock waves through global energy markets, triggering one of the most dramatic oil price surges in modern history and rippling through supply chains worldwide. Since the first strikes, markets have swung violently between panic and brief moments of relief, with analysts warning that volatility is likely to continue.
Oil prices have climbed more than 55 percent since the conflict began. Brent crude, which traded near $72 a barrel on the eve of the attacks, briefly approached $120, marking one of the largest one‑month jumps on record. Each new development, from missile strikes to diplomatic pauses, has produced sharp, sometimes historic, daily swings.
When Did the Iran War Start?
The war, launched on February 28 by the United States and Israel, has rattled global markets and pushed oil prices sharply higher. The current truce began on April 8, following a series of escalating deadlines imposed by Trump. A separate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon has mostly held since last week.
The first round of U.S.–Iran talks in Pakistan earlier this month ended without agreement, though Islamabad has again begun preparing for another session.
Update 4/21/26, 5:51 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines