President Donald Trump unilaterally announced an extension of the two-week ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday, citing a "seriously fractured" Iranian government and requests from Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan. Trump stated that the extension would last until Iranian negotiators submitted a unified proposal for peace, despite having hours earlier expressed an expectation "to be bombing." He directed the US military to continue the naval blockade of Iranian ports and to remain "ready and able" in all other respects.

This sharp about-turn in rhetoric followed a topsy-turvy day where Vice-President JD Vance's expected trip to Islamabad had been put on hold. The move drew a strong, critical response from Iran, with Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of the Iranian parliament and lead negotiator, dismissing the ceasefire extension as "a ploy to buy time for a surprise strike." His personal adviser, Mahdi Mohammadi, asserted that "the time for Iran to take the initiative has come," arguing that "the losing side cannot dictate terms" and that the "continuation of the siege must be met with a military response."

Senior figures within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who hold significant influence in Iran's leadership, were reportedly angered by Trump's earlier social media posts. These posts, which all but proclaimed victory and depicted Iran as surrendering on key points, including its nuclear program, contributed to Iranian anger. This anger subsequently led to the re-closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway, just a day after the Iranian foreign minister had declared it open. The closure of the Strait, which affects around a fifth of the world's oil and gas supply, has been described by Fatih Birol of the International Energy Agency as contributing to "the biggest crisis in history" in global energy markets.

The US naval blockade on Iranian ports was implemented to pressure Tehran into reopening the Strait and suspending its nuclear program. This blockade has become a major sticking point in arranging a second round of peace talks. Iran has maintained that the US must end the blockade for negotiations to resume, with its foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei describing US actions against Iranian vessels, including the seizure of a cargo vessel and boarding of an oil tanker, as "piracy at sea and state terrorism." Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani reinforced this condition for Iran to rejoin talks. Despite this, Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that the blockade would continue, with Bessent predicting that Kharg Island storage would soon be full, leading to the shutdown of fragile Iranian oil wells.

Pakistan has played a crucial mediating role, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanking Trump for the extension and pledging Pakistan's "earnest efforts" for a negotiated settlement. Pakistani officials had expressed confidence that Iran would resume talks in what were expected to be the highest-level negotiations between the two countries since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Security was tightened in Islamabad for the anticipated talks, with government offices and schools shut down. However, Iranian state television confirmed that "no delegation from Iran has visited Islamabad … so far," and Tehran has explicitly stated it has no plans to continue another round of talks due to the US naval blockade. A first round of talks in Islamabad 10 days prior concluded with no agreement on key issues, including the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's nuclear enrichment, and its support for regional proxy groups.

Throughout this period, Trump has maintained a hardline stance. He had previously stated he did not want to extend the ceasefire and had threatened new US attacks on power stations and other civilian infrastructure. In highly inflammatory posts on Truth Social, he later threatened to "blow up the rest of Iran and its leaders" if the Strait of Hormuz was opened without a deal. He claimed Iran was "collapsing financially," "starving for cash," and losing $500 million a day, asserting that its military and police were not getting paid. Ghalibaf, the Iranian parliament speaker, accused Trump of seeking to turn the negotiating table into a "table of surrender," declaring that Iran would "not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats" and was preparing "to reveal new cards on the battlefield." Many experts suggest the ongoing conflict has led to a radicalization of Iran's regime, with more pragmatic figures sidelined and senior officials in the IRGC increasing their hold on power, contrasting with Trump's claims of "regime change" and a "much more rational" leadership.

Internally, Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner were expected to consult on how best to proceed, with US officials cautioning that Trump could change his mind at any time and had options beyond restarting airstrikes. Trump also publicly defended his approach against criticism, lambasting a Wall Street Journal columnist for an op-ed suggesting "The Iranians Take Trump for a Sucker." He boasted of US military successes against Iran, claiming its navy and air force were at the bottom of the sea, its nuclear labs obliterated, and highlighting the killing of General Qasem Soleimani. He also criticized former President Barack Obama's nuclear deal, arguing that previous presidents had done nothing to stop Iran.