With hours remaining before the ceasefire with Iran expires, President Trump abruptly changed his position of being unwilling to extend the ceasefire expressed earlier Tuesday to announcing an extension of that agreement.
Trump says US asked to hold back on attacks on Iran and continue the ceasefire. But US military will continue the blockade. pic.twitter.com/LX8E6k0wzh
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) April 21, 2026
STATEMENT OF PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP:
Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, we have been asked to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal. I have therefore directed our Military to continue the Blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able, and will therefore extend the Ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other. President DONALD J. TRUMP
This morning on CNBC's Squawk Box, Trump told host Joe Kernen that he was reluctant to extend the deadline and anticipated resuming military operations; see President Trump Throws Cold Water on Hopes for a Peace Agreement in Islamabad – RedState: "Well, I expect to be bombing because I think that’s a better attitude to go in with. But we’re ready to go. I mean, the military is raring to go."
It is difficult to see this move as anything other than Trump granting the Iranians an unearned concession. The request for the extension comes from the Pakistanis, not the Iranians. If you think the Pakistanis are playing this straight down the middle and not repping for Iran, I don't know what to tell you. There is no evidence that Iran asked Pakistan for this intervention or that they've changed their position that the U.S. blockade is a violation of the ceasefire. The very fact that Trump pulled back without the Iranians giving any indication they cared to continue negotiating reeks of weakness, not restraint.
In fact, the Iranians are already mocking the ceasefire extension.
Iran lead negotiator Ghalibaf adviser says Trump’s ceasefire extension “lacks logic” and is “a move to buy time for a surprise strike,” adding that Iran holds the initiative. pic.twitter.com/rmJHttuAKX
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) April 21, 2026
In my post earlier Tuesday (see JD Vance Abruptly Called to the White House and the Ceasefire Ends in Hours but No One Is Negotiating – RedState) about the breakdown of the negotiations planned for today, I laid out four possible outcomes:
1. Immediately after the deadline expires, the US will resume attacks on Iran.
2. Trump will extend the ceasefire agreement.
3. Iran makes last-minute concessions and asks for an extension of the ceasefire.
4. Negotiations will not take place, but instead of direct military actions, Trump will continue to pressure Iran through blockade.
Option 4 it is. What is missing is any indication of a timeline for new negotiations. That, like the decision to ignore the current deadline, is a clear sign to Iran that by merely refusing to negotiate, it can prevent another round of U.S. attacks. In the meantime, the IRGC goblins and their pet Basij goons are using the time to crush any inkling of dissent within the population, we can bet that low levels of missile production are beginning, and, most of all, the IRGC regime is starting to appear likely to prevail to the Middle Eastern audience. The Gulf States, which bore the brunt of Iran's retaliation,
Iran Missile and Drone Attacks: Full List of Targets and Number Launchedhttps://t.co/SLSy9hWWtl pic.twitter.com/VTYMb6hDl3
— Faytuks Network (@FaytuksNetwork) April 20, 2026
are already questioning what they gained from participating in the war. Nothing under discussion helps them or gives them protection from Iranian aggression.
What seems lost on the White House is that the Iranians are not interested in any deal that restrains their freedom of action. The government, such as it is, doesn't care about a deal. It doesn't care about people starving. It doesn't care about improving the economy. It cares about power that will keep it in control. Because without control, their heads are going to be paraded down the main drag in Tehran on pikes.
For decades, former presidents have been all talk and no action. Now, Donald Trump is eliminating the threat from Iran once and for all.
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