Middle East on Edge: Trump Extends Ceasefire as Iran Strikes Ship Near Oman

Middle East on Edge: Trump Extends Ceasefire as Iran Strikes Ship Near Oman

PTI

Boston/Washington : US President Donald Trump has indefinitely extended the ceasefire with Iran at the request of mediator Pakistan, saying the move was aimed at giving Tehran’s fractured leadership time to come up with a unified proposal to end the seven-week war.

The dramatic announcement came just hours before the two-week ceasefire announced on April 8 was set to expire, and effectively delayed the planned visit of a US delegation led by Vice President J D Vance to Islamabad for peace talks with Iranian interlocutors.

However, Trump made it clear that the US will refrain from attacking Iran only until its leadership presents a unified proposal for negotiations. He said the economic blockade of Iran’s ports will remain in place.

Iran fires on container ship in Strait of Hormuz

April 22, 2026 11:23 am

Dubai: Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard opened fire on Wednesday on a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz, damaging the ship and further raising the stakes as planned ceasefire talks in Pakistan failed to materialise. The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said the attack happened around 7.55 am in the strait and targeted a container ship. The UKMTO said a Guard gunboat did not hail the ship before firing. It said no one was hurt and there was no environmental impact from the attack. Iran did not immediately acknowledge the assault. It comes after the US seized an Iranian container ship after shooting it this past weekend and boarded an oil tanker associated with Iran's oil trade in the Indian Ocean. AP

UN chief calls US announcement 'important step toward de-escalation'

April 22, 2026 10:23 am

Dubai: Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the US announcement that it is extending the ceasefire will create "critical space for diplomacy and confidence-building between Iran and the United States," according to his spokesperson. "We encourage all parties to build on this momentum, refrain from actions that could undermine the cease-fire, and engage constructively in negotiations to reach a sustainable and lasting resolution," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said late Tuesday. The secretary-general "fully supports" Pakistan's efforts to facilitate US-Iran talks and hopes its efforts "will contribute to creating conditions conducive to a comprehensive and durable resolution to the conflict," Dujarric said. AP

UAE thanks Trump for currency swap mention

April 22, 2026 10:23 am

Dubai: The United Arab Emirates thanked Trump early Wednesday over his mention of a possible currency swap with their country as uncertainty remains over the Iran war. AP

Trump extends Iran ceasefire, Hormuz blockade to continue

April 22, 2026 10:21 am

Washington/Islamabad: US President Donald Trump has indefinitely extended the ceasefire with Iran at the request of mediator Pakistan, saying the move was aimed at giving Tehran’s fractured leadership time to come up with a unified proposal to end the seven-week war. The dramatic announcement came just hours before the two-week ceasefire announced on April 8 was set to expire, and effectively delayed the planned visit of a US delegation led by Vice President J D Vance to Islamabad for peace talks with Iranian interlocutors. However, Trump made it clear that the US will refrain from attacking Iran only until its leadership presents a unified proposal for negotiations. He said the economic blockade of Iran’s ports will remain in place. PTI

Trump says Iran wants Hormuz open ‘to make $500 million’, claims total US blockade on shipping

April 22, 2026 8:28 am

Washington: US President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran is privately pushing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to stem massive economic losses, despite Tehran's public rhetoric suggesting a continued standoff. Taking to Truth Social, Trump said that Iran's outward hostility regarding the waterway is a performance intended for a political audience rather than a reflection of its financial reality. "Iran doesn't want the Strait of Hormuz closed; they want it open so they can make $500 million a day (which is, therefore, what they are losing if it is closed!)," Trump posted, suggesting the blockade is crippling the Iranian economy. He further dismissed Tehran's threats to keep the passage shut, describing them as a defensive reaction to US military pressure. "They only say they want it closed because I have it totally BLOCKADED (CLOSED!), so they merely want to 'save face,'" the President added. ANI

Pakistan PM thanks Trump for extending ceasefire with Iran, hopes for 'comprehensive peace deal'

April 22, 2026 7:55 am

Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday thanked US President Donald Trump for extending the ceasefire with Iran, expressing hope that both sides would be able to "conclude a comprehensive peace deal" to end the conflict. PTI