The US-Iran ceasefire is up in the air, as Donald Trump announced yesterday (Tuesday) that it is being extended, until further notice, while Tehran “sees” a “stratagem” before a new attack.
Specifically “stratagem” to “ensure time” before launching “a new surprise attack”against Iran, Mahdi Mohammadi, an adviser to Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bayr Galibaf -a politician of growing influence who led Tehran’s team of negotiators in recent negotiations – spoke late last Tuesday night. He assessed that it was time for the Iranian side to “take the initiative” in making moves.
The extension of the truce “means nothing,” argued Mohammadi, who expressed himself via X in Persian. He added that the blockade of Iran’s ports by the US armed forces is no substantive difference “from bombing” and “must be met with military retaliation”.
Note that the US president said yesterday – announcing the extension of the ceasefire to allow time for what he described as a “fractured” Iranian leadership to present a “unified” proposal and for negotiators on both sides to prepare – that the blockade of Iranian ports would continue to be enforced.
Before the Republican tycoon’s announcement, a Reuters news agency source in the Iranian political leadership said that Tehran’s negotiators are willing to engage in talks with Washington, but on condition that the other side abandons its policy of pressure and threats and stops effectively demanding Iran’s “unconditional surrender.”
For its part, the US presidency made it known a short while ago that US Vice President J.D. Vance, who has been tasked with conducting the expected new negotiations with Iran in Pakistan, will not depart within hours Tuesday night (local time; early hours of Wednesday morning Greek time) for Islamabad as scheduled.
“In light of (US President Donald) Trump’s message through Truth Social, confirming that the US expects a unified proposal from the Iranians, the trip to Pakistan will not take place today,” a senior US administration official told the press.
Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif welcomes extension
Pakistani Prime Minister Shabaz Sharif “sincerely thanked” US President Donald Trump for his decision to grant Islamabad’s request yesterday (Tuesday) to extend the ceasefire between the US and Iranian armed forces, in order to allow the diplomatic process to continue.
“I sincerely hope that both sides will continue to observe the ceasefire and that they will be able to reach a comprehensive ‘Peace Agreement’ during the second round of talks scheduled to be held in Islamabad to bring a definitive end to the armed conflict,” Sharif said via X.
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