ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he has accepted a Pakistani request to extend the ceasefire with Iran hours before its expiry, stressing that the US naval blockade will continue. 

“I have therefore directed our Military to continue the Blockade … and will therefore extend the Ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

His statement came minutes after Iran confirmed that it will not hold talks with the US in Pakistan on Wednesday “for various reasons,” according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. 

Despite Tehran saying “there is currently no possibility of participating” in the talks, Tasnim did not rule out talks in the coming days. 

Trump further remarked that the decision to extend the ceasefire was made because the Islamic republic “is seriously fractured,” without clarifying how long it will be extended. 

Iran and the United States were initially set to meet on Tuesday for another round of talks in Islamabad as the ceasefire deadline nears expiration, aiming to reach a possible deal to formally end the war.

Washington and Tehran have repeatedly blamed each other for violating the ceasefire. 

On Sunday, Tehran ruled out negotiating with Washington as long as the US naval blockade persists. 

Iranian authorities have routinely cited the American side’s “excessive demands” and lack of political will for the failure of the talks, while Washington has blamed it on Tehran’s refusal to give up its nuclear ambition.