Trump extends ceasefire with Iran pending unified peace proposal

PTI, April 22, 2026, Washington/Islamabad: US President Donald Trump has indefinitely extended the ceasefire with Iran at the request of mediator Pakistan, saying the move was aimed at giving Tehran’s fractured leadership time to come up with a unified proposal to end the seven-week war.

The dramatic announcement, which was welcomed by Pakistan's top leadership, came just hours before the two-week ceasefire announced on April 8 was set to expire. The extension effectively delayed the planned visit of a US delegation led by Vice-President JD Vance to Islamabad for peace talks with Iranian interlocutors.

Vance and US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were scheduled to travel to Islamabad on Tuesday, but the White House said the delegation’s “trip to Pakistan will not be happening today (Tuesday)”.

“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 in a statement on Tuesday.

However, the US President made it clear that the US will refrain from attacking Iran only until its leadership presents a unified proposal for negotiations. He said the economic blockade of Iran’s ports will remain in place.