Iran’s state-owned media has announced that the ceasefire with the United States, which has been in effect since April 8, will expire at 3:30 a.m. Wednesday Tehran time (00:00 GMT). Mediator Pakistan, however, has contradicted that timeline, stating that the truce will end earlier at 23:50 GMT on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reports that Iran has told mediators it will send a delegation to Islamabad only if the US lifts its naval blockade. At the same time, CNN reports that the United States Vice President J.D. Vance is likely to stay at the White House today and not travel to Islamabad, following Iran’s reported refusal to take part in negotiations.
The American President Donald Trump says he does not want to extend ceasefire with Iran. He further says he is “ready to go” back to war with Iran if no deal is reached by the end of the ceasefire tomorrow.
Iranian chief negotiator and parliament speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf said President Donald Trump is trying to turn negotiations into “a table of surrender”. “We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats,” he said on X, adding that Iran is prepared to “reveal new cards on the battlefield”. Iran’s foreign ministry has condemned the US seizure of the Iranian-flagged cargo ship Touska, calling for its “immediate release” along with its crew.
In a statement posted on X, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says “blockading Iranian ports is an act of war and thus a violation of the ceasefire” in a reference to the ongoing US naval blockade around the Strait of Hormuz. “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,” he added.
Pakistan urged both the US and Iran to extend their two-week ceasefire, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said. In a meeting with the US Charge d’Affaires in Pakistan, Natalie A Baker, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stressed the need for engagement between the US and Iran, and said Pakistan urged both sides to consider extending the ceasefire.
Pakistan’s Information Minister on his social media platform says “formal response from Iranian side about confirmation of delegation to attend Islamabad Peace Talks is still awaited”. “Ceasefire ends at 4:50 am PST, 22 April. Decision from Iran to attend the talks before the end of two weeks ceasefire is critical”, he wrote. Pakistan has made sincere efforts to convince the Iranian leadership to participate in the second round of talks and these efforts continue, he further added.
The UN expressed hope Tuesday that the ceasefire would be extended beyond its midnight GMT deadline, urging a return to dialogue. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the UN Secretary-General António Guterres and his envoy continue active communications, adding: “Our firm hope is that the dialogue… will resume, that the ceasefire will be extended, and that diplomacy will be fully enacted.”
Pakistan hosted the first round of peace talks on April 11 after brokering a two-week ceasefire on April 8, which is set to expire Wednesday.