Trump Says Iran Ceasefire Unlikely to Be Extended Without Deal as Negotiations Intensify
President Trump announced the Iran ceasefire will end Wednesday evening Washington time and said it's highly unlikely he would extend it further without a deal. Vice President JD Vance is heading to Pakistan for talks as both sides exchange threats and Iran accuses the U.S. of maritime piracy after seizing an Iranian cargo vessel.
Ceasefire on the Verge of Expiration
US President Donald Trump said he now considers that the ceasefire with Iran will end "Wednesday evening Washington time" and that it's "highly unlikely" he would extend it if a deal is not reached. The ceasefire was originally set to expire Tuesday evening ET.
Escalating Rhetoric and Military Tensions
Trump warned that Iran must agree to a deal "one way or another – the nice way or the hard way" and threatened to target key infrastructure if negotiations fail, renewing his threat of striking "bridges and power plants", which experts said could amount to war crimes under international law.
Delegation to Pakistan
Vice President JD Vance is currently expected to depart Washington on Tuesday to travel to Pakistan and take part in the latest round of talks with Iran on Wednesday, people familiar with the plans told CNN.
Iranian Response and Stalled Negotiations
Despite the escalation, President Trump announced a U.S. delegation is heading to Pakistan for a new round of peace talks, repeating his claim that a deal is "very close." But Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Monday that Tehran has "no plans" to participate.
Maritime Incident
The fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran was tested once again on Sunday when a US guided-missile destroyer fired on and seized an Iranian cargo ship after it tried to get past the US naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman, further angering the Iranians.