Washington D.C., April 22: In a day marked by diplomatic uncertainty and escalating maritime tensions, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that talks with Iran could be on the horizon, even as tensions in the Strait of Hormuz threaten to unravel a fragile regional ceasefire. The President, in a text message toThe New York Post, conveyed his optimism about a "possible" breakthrough in negotiations, despite the high-stakes standoff in the Gulf.
Trump's comments follow his decision to extend a two-week ceasefire, a move he stated was made at the request of Pakistan's leadership. The ceasefire was designed to give Iran’s "seriously fractured" government more time to present a unified proposal, according to Trump.
When asked by The New York Post about the possibility of renewed talks with Iran, Trump replied, "It's possible! President DJT." The report also highlighted sources in Islamabad who noted that Pakistan had been observing signs of renewed diplomatic engagement from Iran, even after Tehran had initially rebuffed a second round of talks there due to security concerns. According to the sources, a new round of negotiations could take place within 36 to 72 hours.
"The ceasefire is holding despite heightened rhetoric, which signals positive intent from both sides," one source was quoted as saying. This message of cautious optimism comes after Trump announced the extension of the ceasefire on Tuesday, explaining that the extra time would allow Iran's leadership to develop a cohesive proposal for negotiations. He added that the Iranian government was "seriously fractured."
In a post on Truth Social, Trump explained that the decision to extend the ceasefire was influenced by concerns over internal divisions within Iran's government, as well as requests from international stakeholders. He emphasized that the U.S. military would remain on high alert while maintaining a blockade until significant diplomatic progress was made.
"Given the fractured state of the Iranian government, not unexpectedly so, and upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan, we have been asked to delay our attack on Iran until their leadership can present a unified proposal," Trump wrote. "Therefore, I have instructed our military to continue the blockade and remain ready for any developments, while the ceasefire remains in effect until further proposals are submitted and discussions are concluded." ( With Agency Input)
