President Donald Trump said he would extend the US ceasefire with Iran to give Tehran more time to submit a proposal and for negotiations to conclude. Announcing the move on Truth Social, Trump said the extension was made at Pakistan’s request to allow Iranian leaders time to agree on a unified proposal. He directed US forces to continue the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz while remaining ready to resume military action if talks fail.
Pakistan has been acting as mediator between Washington and Tehran. Islamabad said it was still waiting for a formal Iranian response about attending a second round of talks scheduled there, and Pakistan’s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, welcomed the ceasefire extension and urged both sides to observe the truce and pursue a comprehensive peace deal. US Vice President JD Vance’s planned trip to Islamabad was reported to be on hold, and Trump’s aides — including envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner — were consulted on next steps.
Iran, which has so far balked at further talks under certain conditions, faces pressure from the US and regional dynamics. A senior Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander warned that if neighboring countries allow the US to use their facilities to attack Iran, the region’s oil industry could be targeted. Tehran also denounced recent arrests in the United Arab Emirates, calling allegations tying detainees to Iran “baseless.”
Meanwhile, the US Treasury imposed new sanctions on an international network accused of supplying weapons and components to Iran’s missile and drone programs, targeting 14 people, companies and aircraft linked to procurement efforts. The US Defense Department also said its forces intercepted and boarded a vessel in the Indian Ocean alleged to be affiliated with Iran and designated as sanctioned.
Incidents along regional frontlines continued despite the truce. Israel said it struck a Hezbollah rocket launcher in southern Lebanon after what it described as rocket fire and accused the group of violating the ceasefire; sirens sounded in northern Israel after a drone fired from Lebanon was intercepted. Hezbollah has rejected direct Lebanon-Israel talks intended to disarm the group, while Lebanese leaders warned resistance if Israeli forces do not withdraw from southern areas.
Internal Israeli military accountability surfaced when two soldiers were removed from combat duty and sentenced to 30 days in prison after a widely circulated photo showed a soldier damaging a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon. The Israeli military said the act deviated from its orders and values and replaced the damaged sculpture in coordination with the local community.
The conflict’s wider economic and diplomatic effects were evident. The EU is considering importing US-grade aviation fuel to guard against potential jet-fuel shortages if the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted, and the International Energy Agency and airlines warned shortages could arrive within weeks. In Brussels, Germany’s foreign minister described proposals to suspend the EU-Israel cooperation agreement as inappropriate, preferring critical, constructive dialogue with Israel rather than blanket suspension.
As the ceasefire extension takes effect, key questions remain: whether Iran will submit the unified proposal Pakistan seeks, whether Islamabad-hosted talks will resume, and if diplomatic efforts can contain broader escalation across the region.