US President Donald Trump has reportedly given Iran a limited window of “three to five days” to come up with a unified proposal for negotiations, with US officials indicating that extending the current ceasefire will not last indefinitely, according to an Axios report citing three US officials.The report said that Trump’s move represents a short deadline for Tehran, as an American source familiar with the matter told Axios: “Trump is willing to grant another three to five days of ceasefire to allow the Iranians to gather. The matter will not be open indefinitely.”
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Explaining Trump’s ceasefire gamble as Iran’s strategy derails crucial negotiations
According to the officials mentioned in the report, the ceasefire extension aims to push the Iranian leadership to strengthen its negotiating position before the temporary truce ends, after which Washington can determine its next course of action depending on Tehran’s response.Earlier, Trump said on Wednesday that he decided to extend the ceasefire to allow the Iranian leadership more time to present a coherent negotiating proposal. Trump posted on social media that he would “extend the ceasefire” until Iran comes up with a proposal to end the conflict, while directing the US military to continue the naval blockade of Iranian ports.Trump’s extension of the ceasefire came hours before the truce was expected to end.
He said the decision came after requests from Pakistani Army Commander Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, while pointing to divisions within the Iranian leadership.In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “Based on the fact that the government of Iran is dangerously divided, and not unexpectedly, at the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif of Pakistan, we have been asked to suspend our attack on the nation of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come to a unified proposal.”He added: “I have therefore directed our army to continue the siege and, in all other respects, to remain ready and capable, and therefore I will extend the ceasefire until their proposal is presented, and the discussions are concluded, one way or another.”The ceasefire, reached earlier this month to make way for diplomacy, remained fragile, with both sides expressing reservations about implementation.Meanwhile, the White House said Vice President J.D. Vance would not travel to Pakistan to attend what was expected to be a second round of peace talks. A White House official said: “The trip to Pakistan will not take place today. The White House will announce any further updates regarding in-person meetings.”
