Trump Extends Iran Ceasefire Amid Threats, Reversals and Faltering Diplomacy

London- The US president, Donald Trump, has announced an indefinite extension of the fragile ceasefire with Iran, delaying a threatened military assault while urging Tehran to return to negotiations brokered by Pakistan.

The decision, revealed late on Tuesday, marks the latest abrupt shift in Washington's position after a week of escalating rhetoric and contradictory signals. Only hours earlier, Trump had warned that "if there's no deal, the bombs will drop", insisting US forces were ready to launch a large-scale attack on Iranian infrastructure.

Instead, the White House now says it will hold off, citing appeals from Pakistan's leadership, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Asim Munir, who are attempting to revive stalled talks in Islamabad.

A ceasefire under strain

The truce, originally announced on 7 April, followed weeks of intense confrontation that reportedly saw more than 100 waves of Iranian retaliatory strikes targeting US and allied positions across the Gulf. Strategic sites in countries including the UAE, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were hit, underscoring the regional scope of the conflict.

Despite the pause in direct hostilities, tensions have continued to simmer. Washington has maintained a naval blockade of Iranian ports -- a move Tehran has condemned as an "act of war".

Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said the blockade made meaningful negotiations impossible. "Iran knows how to resist bullying," he wrote, signalling that Tehran would not engage under coercion.

That stance casts doubt over whether renewed talks in Islamabad can proceed, even with the ceasefire extension.

Confusion and contradictions in Washington

The extension also highlights growing questions about coherence within the Trump administration's Iran policy. Over recent days, the president has alternated between predicting an imminent agreement and threatening overwhelming force.

On Friday, Trump suggested a deal was likely within days. By Monday, he ruled out extending the ceasefire. By Tuesday morning, he warned of renewed bombing. By evening, he had reversed course.

Further uncertainty emerged with the cancellation of a planned visit by vice-president JD Vance to Islamabad, a move that had been seen as a sign of US commitment to the mediation effort.

Trump has claimed internal divisions within Iran are slowing progress, but that assertion has been disputed. Reporting from Tehran, Al Jazeera correspondent Ali Hashem said the leadership appeared "very unified", particularly since the assassination of former supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

Mounting military and political pressure

Behind the diplomatic manoeuvring lies mounting strain on US military resources. According to a report by The Hill, citing analysis from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the scale of the campaign -- dubbed "Operation Epic Fury" -- has significantly depleted American missile stockpiles.

The report found that nearly half of Patriot interceptor reserves have been used, alongside more than half of THAAD systems and substantial portions of other precision munitions.

Such figures raise questions about Washington's capacity to sustain a prolonged conflict, potentially adding urgency to diplomatic efforts.

Tehran's scepticism

Iranian officials have reacted cautiously, if not outright sceptically, to the ceasefire extension. Senior figures have warned that the move could be a tactical ploy rather than a genuine step towards peace.

An adviser to parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf told Reuters the announcement might be intended to mask preparations for a surprise attack, insisting that "the losing side cannot dictate terms".

Qalibaf himself has reiterated that Iran will not negotiate "under the shadow of threats", while lawmakers are reportedly advancing new measures concerning control of the Strait of Hormuz -- a signal of Tehran's readiness to escalate if necessary.

Fragile prospects for talks

In Islamabad, authorities have taken extraordinary measures to facilitate negotiations. Government offices are closed, schools shut and security tightened across the capital's diplomatic district as mediators attempt to create conditions for dialogue.

Officials involved in the process say there are still areas of potential agreement, but acknowledge that the gap between US and Iranian positions remains wide. Washington has rejected Tehran's preconditions, while Iran refuses to engage amid ongoing military pressure.

Pakistan is now working to identify points of convergence, hoping that Trump's temporary softening might prompt reciprocal flexibility from Tehran.

Whether that hope materialises remains uncertain. With the blockade continuing and threats of renewed strikes still on the table, the extended ceasefire may offer time -- but not yet a clear path -- to de-escalation.