Washington (TDI): US President Donald Trump said that the ongoing ceasefire with Iran has been extended by approximately two days, pushing the deadline to Wednesday evening (Washington time), while warning that no further extension is likely if a deal is not reached.
Speaking in a Bloomberg interview, Trump said the truce, previously set to expire on April 21 at 8pm ET, would now continue through midweek, describing the extension as limited and conditional.
“It’s highly unlikely that I’d extend it,” Trump said, stressing that failure to reach an agreement would trigger renewed pressure on Tehran.
The US president has repeatedly tied the ceasefire to the outcome of ongoing diplomatic efforts, warning Iran of “serious consequences” if negotiations fail.
In remarks during a radio interview, Trump said Iran would ultimately be forced to negotiate, adding that Washington would not accept any scenario allowing Tehran to develop nuclear weapons.
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“They’re going to negotiate, and if they don’t, they’re going to see problems like they’ve never seen before,” he said.
Trump also claimed that Iranian leadership had directed “hundreds of oil ships” toward the United States, a statement made on his Truth Social platform amid rising tensions over energy flows and maritime restrictions.
Iran has firmly rejected what it describes as coercive diplomacy. Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused Washington of attempting to turn negotiations into “a table of surrender,” warning that Tehran would not accept talks under threats.
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“We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats,” Ghalibaf said, adding that Iran had been preparing “new cards on the battlefield” in response to escalating pressure.
Tehran has also questioned US commitment to diplomacy, citing military and maritime actions it considers violations of the ceasefire framework.
The ceasefire extension comes amid continued uncertainty over the next round of US–Iran talks, with no confirmed date or location officially announced. Islamabad has been floated as a possible venue, with diplomatic and security preparations reportedly underway, but neither side has confirmed participation.
Meanwhile, regional and global powers continue to urge restraint, warning that renewed escalation could further destabilize energy markets and international trade routes, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz.
With the revised deadline now approaching midweek, diplomatic efforts appear to be entering a critical phase. However, deep mistrust between Washington and Tehran, coupled with competing political narratives, continues to cast doubt over whether the fragile ceasefire can be transformed into a lasting agreement.
