U.S. President Donald Trump said he would extend the ceasefire until Iran presents a unified proposal, claiming the country is internally divided. Iran, however, said it does not recognize the ceasefire and would lift any counter-blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by force if necessary. Renewed war uncertainty pushed international oil prices higher and sent New York stocks lower.
Trump wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday (local time) that Pakistan's Army Chief of Staff Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had asked him to hold off on strikes until a unified proposal emerged from inside Iran. Trump claimed the Iranian government is in a state of serious division. "I have directed our military to maintain the blockade and to remain prepared on all fronts," he added.
The message came at 4:20 p.m. (5:20 a.m. Wednesday Korea time), just a day before the ceasefire deadline. Trump did not mention a new deadline for the extension. The Wall Street Journal assessed that "Trump's intent not to resume combat with Iran was revealed once again."
The U.S. had initially said that chief negotiator Vice President JD Vance would head to Islamabad, Pakistan for talks that morning, but major foreign media reported that Vance remained in the United States through the afternoon. Washington had not received confirmation from Iran regarding its participation in the meeting.
While Trump said Iran was seriously divided and the ceasefire would be extended until a unified message emerged, Iran announced it would not participate in a second round of end-of-war negotiations. Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reported that Iran had delivered its position of non-participation to the United States through mediator Pakistan. The agency said the reasons for non-participation included the U.S. breaking its promises immediately after the ceasefire agreement and its hostile response regarding the Strait of Hormuz. "Iran has not requested an extension of the ceasefire," Tasnim reported. "As long as the Strait of Hormuz remains blockaded, Iran will not open the strait either, and will lift the blockade by force if necessary."
In a related development, reports emerged that the hardline IRGC is gaining power inside Iran. Iran International, an Iranian dissident media outlet, reported citing multiple sources that "the IRGC is blocking personnel appointments by President Masoud Pezeshkian and setting up a security cordon around Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei."
Oil prices rose on war uncertainty. As of 4:50 p.m. Eastern Time, Brent crude futures were trading 3.9% higher in the $99-per-barrel range, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was up 3% in the $90 range. The Dow Jones closed down 0.59% at 49,149.38, the S&P 500 fell 0.63% to 7,064.01, and the Nasdaq slipped 0.59% to 24,259.96.
