Wars 2026 02/28 Israel-Iran War 3.0

[Saif]

Trump extends ceasefire to give Iran more time to negotiate

Directs to continue US naval blockade

www.thedailystar.net

Trump extends ceasefire to give Iran more time to negotiate

Directs to continue US naval blockade

Representational image

President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he was extending a ceasefire with Iran to give more time for negotiations, but would maintain a US naval blockade of the country's ports.

Trump posted on social media that he would "extend the Ceasefire" until Iran came up with a proposal to end the conflict. However, he "directed our Military to continue the Blockade."

Trump's ceasefire extension came hours before it was believed to be set to expire.

It also came as the White House said Vice President JD Vance would not be going to Pakistan for what had been expected to be a second round of peace talks.

The US president cast the breakdown in more talks as resulting from Iranian infighting, adding that Pakistan's leaders had asked him to extend the truce.

"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," Trump posted on his Truth Social site.

But the blockade of ports on Iran's coast in the Strait of Hormuz will remain in place, Trump said, while the US military will "in all other respects, remain ready and able."

The ceasefire, he said, will be extended "until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other."​

 

[Saif]

Trump says Iran talks ‘possible’ within days as ceasefire extended

US President Donald Trump has said a second round of peace talks with Iran could begin within the next few days, raising cautious hopes for diplomatic progress. According to a report by the New York Post, Pakistani officials indicated that talks might take place within the next 36 to 72 hours. Whe

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Trump says Iran talks ‘possible’ within days as ceasefire extended

BBC
Published :
Apr 23, 2026 00:21
Updated :
Apr 23, 2026 00:21

US President Donald Trump has said a second round of peace talks with Iran could begin within the next few days, raising cautious hopes for diplomatic progress.

According to a report by the New York Post, Pakistani officials indicated that talks might take place within the next 36 to 72 hours. When asked about the possibility, Trump replied in a text message, “It’s possible! President DJT.”

The development comes a day after Trump announced the extension of a ceasefire with Iran, which was initially set to expire on Wednesday evening. The extension is aimed at giving Tehran more time to present a “unified proposal” to end the ongoing conflict.

While uncertainty remains over Iran’s participation, the prospect of renewed talks signals a potential diplomatic opening amid heightened tensions between the two sides.​

 

[Saif]

Three ships targeted in Hormuz, Iran seizes two: monitors, Guards

British maritime security agency UKMTO said an Iranian gunboat fired at a container ship off the coast of Oman Wednesday

en.prothomalo.com

Three ships targeted in Hormuz, Iran seizes two: monitors, Guards

AFP
Published: 22 Apr 2026, 19: 18

Map of Strait of Hormuz Reuters file photo

Iranian forces targeted three container ships on Wednesday, seizing two and firing on a third, global security monitors and the country's Revolutionary Guards said, the latest incidents to threaten a crucial trade route in the Middle East war.

British maritime security agency UKMTO said an Iranian gunboat fired at a container ship off the coast of Oman Wednesday, while a ship off Iran was also fired upon.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said separately that their naval forces stopped two ships attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz and directed them to Iranian waters.

It accused them of breaching its blockade of the route, imposed in the Middle East war that erupted on February 28 with US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

"The master of a container ship reported that the vessel was approached by one IRGC gunboat... that then fired upon the vessel, which has caused heavy damage to the bridge. No fires or environmental impact reported," the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said.

It added that the incident took place 15 nautical miles northeast of Oman and all the crew were safe.

According to British maritime security firm Vanguard Tech, the vessel was sailing under a Liberian flag and "had been informed it had permission to transit the Strait of Hormuz".

Iranian news agency Tasnim said the ship had "ignored warnings from Iran''s armed forces".

The IGRC said its naval force "this morning identified and stopped in the Strait of Hormuz two violating ships".

In a statement, the force said the vessels "were seized by the IRGC''s naval forces and directed to the Iranian coast."

The IRGC named the two ships seized as the MSC-Francesca and the Epaminondas, Iranian broadcaster IRIB said on Telegram.

It alleged the Francesca was linked to Israel while the Epaminodes lacked "the necessary permits" and had been "tampering with navigation systems".

Ship-tracking platform MarineTraffic showed the two vessels -- both container ships -- stopped near the Iranian coast on Wednesday.

Cargo ship fired on

In a separate incident, a cargo ship eight nautical miles west of Iran was fired upon and stopped in the water, UKMTO said.

"A master of an outbound cargo ship reports having been fired upon and is now stopped in the water. Crew are safe and accounted for. There is no reported damage to the vessel," UKMTO said.

Vanguard identified it as the Panama-flagged containership Euphoria, which it said was "transiting outbound of the Strait of Hormuz".

MarineTraffic later showed the Euphoria had left the strait and was headed to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

Shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz has been heavily restricted by Iran since the start of the war with Israel and the United States, while the US military is enforcing a counter-blockade of Iranian ports.

US President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that the truce between the two countries would be extended after it first took effect on 8 April.​