Donald Trump has said it is highly unlikely that the United States will extend its current ceasefire with Iran if negotiations fail to produce an agreement before the deadline later this week.
Speaking during a phone interview cited by Bloomberg, Trump confirmed that the ceasefire he announced on April 7 is scheduled to expire on Wednesday evening, Washington time.
“It’s Wednesday evening,” Trump said, reiterating the timeline. When asked if he would extend the truce should talks remain unresolved, he responded: “It’s highly unlikely that I’d extend it.”
Hormuz Blockade To Continue Until Deal Is Signed
Trump also made it clear that the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz will remain blocked until a final agreement with Tehran is reached.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important oil transit chokepoints, and disruptions there have immediate global economic implications.
“They want me to open it. The Iranians desperately want it opened. I’m not opening it until a deal is signed,” Trump said.
The continued blockade has already triggered a rise in global oil prices, particularly after the United States Navy seized an Iranian-flagged vessel amid ongoing tensions.
Vice President JD Vance To Resume Talks In Pakistan
Trump confirmed that JD Vance will travel to Islamabad to resume negotiations with Iranian representatives.
The next round of talks is expected to begin on Tuesday and is widely viewed as crucial in determining whether diplomacy succeeds or conflict resumes.
“I’m not going to be rushed into making a bad deal. We’ve got all the time in the world,” Trump said, suggesting that the US is willing to hold firm on its negotiating terms.
Trump Signals Willingness To Attend Talks Personally
Although he does not believe it will be necessary, Trump indicated he would be open to attending negotiations in person if doing so could help finalise a peace agreement.
He added that a successful outcome could benefit all sides involved, potentially stabilising a region that has been under intense geopolitical strain.
Meanwhile, Iran is reviewing a US proposal that was reportedly delivered during a diplomatic visit by Asim Munir, according to Iran’s semi-official news agency.
Risk Of Renewed Conflict If Talks Fail
When asked whether hostilities could resume immediately if negotiations collapse, Trump did not rule out the possibility.
“If there’s no deal, I would certainly expect,” he said, indicating that renewed fighting remains a real risk if diplomacy fails.
With the ceasefire deadline approaching and negotiations set to resume, the coming days are expected to be decisive in shaping the future of US-Iran relations and broader Middle East stability.