Deadlock in the Desert: Trump Signals Possible Friday Peace Talks as Iran Stalls
Iran acknowledges Trump’s ceasefire extension but stalls on Pakistan peace talks. As Islamabad prepares for high-stakes diplomacy, IRGC forces strike a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced on Wednesday that Tehran has officially received President Donald Trump's proposal to extend the current ceasefire. However, Tehran emphasized that a final decision has not yet been made regarding participation in the upcoming round of negotiations scheduled to take place in Islamabad, Pakistan. "If we find that attending serves our national interests, we will go there," the official statement read.
Efforts to Resume Contact
In a statement to the New York Post, President Trump estimated that talks could resume within a 36-to-72-hour window, noting that a meeting could potentially occur as early as this Friday.
Earlier, Trump announced via Truth Social that he was extending the ceasefire at the request of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir. Trump justified the move by claiming that the Iranian government is "severely fractured."
Security Readiness and Diplomatic Ambiguity
High alert remains in effect in Islamabad:
Psychological Warfare and Maritime Incident
While diplomatic maneuvers continue, Tehran has responded with digital psychological warfare. An AI-generated video circulating on Iranian social media depicts President Trump talking to an empty room and frustratedly shouting, "So where are the Iranians?", mocking his claims of successful negotiation progress.
In a parallel development, a serious incident was reported in the Strait of Hormuz. According to Reuters, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) gunboats opened fire on a civilian container ship. While the vessel sustained damage to several containers, no injuries were reported among the crew. This attack occurred just hours after the White House announcement regarding the ceasefire extension.