
President Donald Trump said the US would extend the ceasefire with Iran until an Iranian proposal is presented and discussions are concluded.
"Given the not-so-unexpected, highly fragmented nature of the Iranian government, and in response to the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan, we have been asked to suspend our attack on Iran until its leaders and representatives are able to formulate a unified proposal," Trump announced on Truth Social.
"Therefore, I have directed our Armed Forces to maintain the blockade (of the Strait of Hormuz) and otherwise remain ready and operational; accordingly, I will extend the ceasefire until their proposal is presented and discussions are concluded, one way or another," the US president declared.
But this is seen by Tehran as a tactical maneuver to prepare for a new attack.
Mahdi Mohammadi, an advisor to Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said Washington's decision is "a strategy to buy time" before a "surprise attack." He stressed that it is time for the Iranian side to "take the initiative."
According to him, the extension of the ceasefire "means nothing," while the blockade of Iranian ports by US forces is "equal to bombing" and must be met with "military retaliation."
Meanwhile, an Iranian source told Reuters that Tehran is ready for negotiations with the US, but only if Washington drops its pressure and threats, as well as its demand for "unconditional surrender."
Iranian authorities also condemned the seizure of two merchant ships by US forces, describing the action as "piracy at sea" and "state terrorism."