President Trump announced a short extension of the two-week ceasefire with Iran to give Tehran more time to produce what he called a “unified proposal” for negotiations, but major doubts remain about whether talks will occur in Islamabad and whether the truce will hold. The president said Pakistan’s leaders requested additional time and directed U.S. forces to keep the naval blockade in place “until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded.” Iran has not publicly accepted or rejected the extension.
Maritime and military incidents have continued to escalate. The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations center reported two separate attacks in the Strait of Hormuz: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps allegedly fired on a container ship, causing damage, and a second cargo ship said it was shot at and stopped in the water though without visible damage. Over the weekend, U.S. forces fired on and seized the Iranian-flagged cargo ship Touska, accusing it of attempting to evade the U.S. blockade. The U.S. also interdicted and boarded the oil tanker M/T Tifani, which the Pentagon described as a “stateless sanctioned” vessel involved in ship-to-ship transfers; that operation occurred in the Indo-Pacific Command area.
U.S. Central Command says forces have directed 28 vessels to turn back or return to port since the blockade began. Shipping firms and services have reacted: Maersk warned vessels to avoid transiting the Strait, and MarineTraffic data showed commercial movement in the narrow waterway had largely stalled as Iran reimposed partial closures and demanded coordination for passage. Tasnim, a semi-official Iranian news agency linked to the IRGC, declared the Strait “closed until further notice” after what it called a recent U.S.-Israeli strike and demanded guarantees to lift the U.S. blockade before reopening the waterway.
Diplomatic efforts remain active but uncertain. Pakistani mediators have been pressing for talks and reportedly urged the U.S. to consider extending the truce to give negotiations a chance. Pakistan’s deputy prime minister urged the U.S. chargé in Islamabad to allow more time for Iran to consolidate a negotiating position. Pakistani officials say they are in regular contact with Tehran and are awaiting a formal response about whether an Iranian delegation will travel to Islamabad.
Plans for who might lead a U.S. delegation are in flux. Vice President JD Vance, previously suggested by the White House as a possible lead, stayed in Washington and will take part in policy meetings there; officials said further travel or meeting details would be announced later. Iranian state media and senior officials have pushed back on immediate talks, saying no delegation has yet been sent and insisting any participation depends on a change in U.S. behavior. Iran’s parliament speaker said Tehran will not negotiate “under the shadow of threats.”
At the same time, the United States increased pressure through sanctions. The Treasury Department announced new sanctions on companies and individuals tied to Iran’s drone and ballistic missile programs, saying the measures aim to degrade Tehran’s revenue and military networks. Treasury officials warned that anyone aiding Iran’s maritime trade risks U.S. sanctions and suggested Iran’s oil storage and output could be strained if maritime constraints persist.
Tehran condemned U.S. interdictions. Iran’s mission to the United Nations called the seizure of the Touska a “grave breach of international law” and demanded the immediate return of the vessel and crew. Iranian military and political leaders have framed the blockade as a violation of the ceasefire and said they remain prepared to respond to breaches. Iran’s agriculture minister said the blockade has had little impact on essential food supplies, noting most staple goods are produced domestically or imported over land.
Regional and international reactions were mixed. China warned the Middle East faces a “critical juncture” and urged steps to prevent renewed hostilities. Lebanon reported an Israeli strike in the Bekaa that killed one person despite a separate Israel-Hezbollah truce, with both sides accusing the other of violations. The United Arab Emirates rebuffed any suggestion it needed external financial aid after Trump mentioned a possible currency-swap line, with the UAE Embassy in Washington emphasizing the country’s sovereign assets and reserves.
Domestically, Trump combined conciliatory and hardline messaging: he said a “great deal” could be reached if Iran negotiates, but he also warned that strikes could resume and threatened severe consequences if Tehran refused to engage. He claimed Iran is “collapsing financially” and used public appeals — including urging clemency for women reportedly facing execution — as part of the broader negotiating posture. Critics in Washington, including Rep. Adam Smith, questioned the administration’s depiction of progress and cautioned that mixed messages risk complicating diplomacy.
Other developments: Israel’s Mossad chief publicly acknowledged that an agent involved in Iran operations was killed abroad in 2023. A Greece-based maritime risk firm, MARISKS, warned of fraudulent messages demanding cryptocurrency payments for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, calling the solicitations scams. Meanwhile, the U.S. will host another round of ambassador-level Israel-Lebanon talks at the State Department as it seeks to stabilize related fronts.
Outlook: Significant uncertainty remains over whether Iranian delegates will travel to Pakistan and whether a durable agreement can be reached while the U.S. maintains a naval blockade. Ongoing attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and continued interdictions underscore the fragility of the ceasefire even as global powers press for diplomacy. Pakistan-mediated contacts and developments in the coming hours will be pivotal in determining whether talks proceed and whether the ceasefire extension holds.