U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday he is extending at Pakistan鈥檚 request while awaiting a 鈥渦nified proposal鈥� from Tehran, even as the U.S. military maintains its blockade of Iranian ports. The move comes as the White House put on hold Vice President JD Vance鈥檚 planned trip to Pakistan for a second round of truce talks with Iran, which has balked at further discussions. But Trump warned that the U.S. military will continue its blockade of Iranian ports.
Trump made the announcement as ceasefire talks with a two-week truce set to expire on Wednesday. Both countries had said they were prepared to resume fighting if no deal is reached.
Trump said he would “extend the Ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other.鈥�
Iran has yet to decide whether to join the negotiations in Pakistan, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said earlier Tuesday, and will only take part if Tehran believes the discussions would yield results.
Since the war started, fighting has killed at least 3,375 people in Iran and in Lebanon. Additionally, 23 people have died in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Fifteen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and 13 U.S. service members throughout the region have been killed.
Here is the latest:
US treasury secretary doubles down on economic pressures on Iran
In a post on X Tuesday evening, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the blockade of Iranian ports 鈥渄irectly targets the regime鈥檚 primary revenue lifelines鈥� by constraining maritime trade.
鈥淜harg Island storage will be full and the fragile Iranian oil wells will be shut in,鈥� Bessent said.
Kharg Island is considered the beating heart of Iran鈥檚 oil industry, through which 90% of its exports pass.
In line with previous statements about , Bessent also said Iranian funds would remain frozen and any person or vessel facilitating the flow of funds to Iran would risk U.S. sanctions.
Iran holds rallies including a ballistic missile launcher
Iranian hard-liners rallied late Tuesday night as possible talks in Islamabad with the United States broke down, with members of Iran鈥檚 paramilitary Revolutionary Guard apparently bringing a ballistic missile on a mobile launcher to one event.
Footage aired by Iranian state TV showed men carrying Kalashnikov-style assault rifles riding atop a missile that resembled a Qadr ballistic missile in Iran鈥檚 capital, Tehran.
Such Qadr missiles can release individual bomblets known as cluster munitions, which Iran used widely when attacking Israel during the war.
Trump offers combative social media post as ceasefire indefinitely extended
Trump offered a combative social media post Tuesday night after indefinitely extending a ceasefire in the Iran war after talks in Islamabad failed to materialize.
Writing on his Truth Social website, Trump contended that 鈥淚ran doesn鈥檛 want the Strait of Hormuz closed, they want it open鈥� so they can sell their crude oil.
Trump said if he allowed that to happen, there 鈥渃an never be a Deal with Iran, unless we blow up the rest of their Country, their leaders included!鈥�
It鈥檚 unclear what the next step forward is to resume talks in Pakistan鈥檚 capital.
UAE thanks Trump for currency swap mention
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.
A statement issued by the UAE鈥檚 Embassy in Washington appeared aimed at signaling the country remained financially secure after Trump鈥檚 comment.
鈥淎ny suggestion that the UAE requires external financial backing misreads the facts,鈥� it said. 鈥淭he UAE is one of the world鈥檚 most financially resilient economies, underpinned by more than $2 trillion in sovereign investment assets; more than $300 billion in foreign currency reserves held by the UAE鈥檚 central bank; and a banking sector with approximately $1.5 trillion in deposits.鈥�
The UAE is an autocratically ruled federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula home to Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
While able to export some oil through a pipeline to the Gulf of Oman, the continued chaos around the Strait of Hormuz has cut off a lot of its oil from reaching the market.
The war also has affected businesses in Dubai and the country鈥檚 long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad.
UN chief calls US announcement 鈥榓n important step toward de-escalation鈥�
Secretary-General Ant贸nio Guterres said the U.S. announcement that it is extending the ceasefire will create 鈥渃ritical space for diplomacy and confidence-building between Iran and the United States,鈥� according to his spokesperson.
鈥淲e 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,鈥� U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said late Tuesday.
The secretary-general 鈥渇ully supports鈥� Pakistan鈥檚 efforts to facilitate U.S.-Iran talks and hopes its efforts 鈥渨ill contribute to creating conditions conducive to a comprehensive and durable resolution to the conflict,鈥� Dujarric said.
UN nuclear watchdog chief welcomes ceasefire extension between Iran and US
Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, told reporters late Tuesday that the effort to end the war between Tehran and Washington is a 鈥渃omplex process鈥� and that it鈥檚 important to allow 鈥渃ontinuity鈥� for that process to play out.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 very important that an opportunity for peace is given,鈥� he said.
Grossi, who is currently running to become the next U.N. secretary-general, also warned both sides that any peace deal must include the IAEA from the start to enforce oversight over Iran鈥檚 nuclear program.
Otherwise, he added, 鈥測ou will have an illusion of an agreement.鈥�
Talks to end the war present a new test for Iran鈥檚 leadership
U.S.-Israeli bombardment eliminated Iran鈥檚 supreme leader and much of the nation鈥檚 top echelons, but the Islamic Republic鈥檚 leadership didn鈥檛 fall apart. Negotiations to end the war offer it a new test.
For decades, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei managed several powerful factions, bringing to heel those who challenged his authority.
It鈥檚 now unclear who wields that kind of authority over the civilian figures and powerful generals from the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard who appear to be in charge.
They have found unity 鈥� for now 鈥� by taking a tough line. But disagreements over how much to concede in could reveal fault lines as Pakistani mediators try to host a new round of talks.
After Israeli strikes , his son Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei succeeded him. But doubts persist over the after reports he was wounded in the strikes. He has not appeared in public since.
At the center of power now is a politburo-like body known as the Supreme National Security Council, which includes Iran鈥檚 top civilian and military officials.
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Vance will not be traveling to Pakistan on Tuesday
The White House said in a statement that in light of the president鈥檚 announcement that he was extending the ceasefire and awaiting a proposal from Iran, Vance and the U.S. negotiating delegation would not be traveling to Pakistan on Tuesday.
The White House did not offer any additional updates on the possibility of in-person meetings.
Pakistan鈥檚 prime minister thanks Trump
Shehbaz Sharif thanked the U.S. president for extending the ceasefire with Iran, saying it would allow ongoing diplomatic efforts to proceed.
In a post on X, Sharif said he was expressing gratitude 鈥渙n my personal behalf and on behalf of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir鈥� for Trump鈥檚 鈥済racious acceptance鈥� of Pakistan鈥檚 request to extend the ceasefire.
Sharif said he hoped both sides would continue observing the ceasefire and reach a comprehensive peace deal during a second round of talks scheduled in Islamabad.
Stocks slip and oil prices rise on uncertainty about US-Iran ceasefire talks
The S&P 500 erased an early rise to fall 0.6% after the U.S. vice president called off his trip to Pakistan for negotiations with Iran.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 293 points, or 0.6%, after erasing an earlier gain of 400 points, while the Nasdaq composite slipped 0.6%. Less than 10 minutes after the U.S. stock market finished trading for the day, Trump said he would extend the ceasefire to give Iran time to submit a proposal to end the war.
Oil prices also wavered before Trump announced the extension, and the price for a barrel of Brent crude went from less than $95 to roughly $100 during the day. It settled at $98.48, up 3.1%.
The moves were mostly more modest than the vicious swings that rocked Wall Street earlier in the war.
Trump says a ceasefire extension was needed because Iranian leadership is 鈥榮eriously fractured鈥�
The president, in his social media post, also alluded to reported divisions within the Islamic Republic, saying they have come 鈥渘ot unexpectedly.鈥�
Trump has repeatedly said over the course of the ceasefire that began on April 8 that his team is dealing with Iranian officials who want to make a deal, while acknowledging his decision to kill several top leaders has come with some complications.
鈥淲e鈥檝e taken out their leaders, frankly, which does complicate things in one way, but these leaders are much more rational,鈥� Trump said earlier Tuesday during an interview on CNBC.
Iran calls for the United Nations to condemn US seizures of its ships
The Iranian mission to the U.N. sent a letter Tuesday asking for the world body and the Security Council to issue a 鈥渇irm and unequivocal鈥� condemnation of the U.S. decision Sunday to attack and seize an Iranian-flagged cargo ship.
鈥淭his constitutes a grave breach of international law, a clear violation of the ceasefire, and an act of aggression marked by the hallmarks of piracy,鈥� the mission posted on X. 鈥淪uch reckless conduct directly endangers international navigation and undermines maritime safety and security.鈥�
Washington had said the ship tried to evade the U.S. naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump says US will extend ceasefire but continue its blockade of Iranian ports
The president said he鈥檚 extending the ceasefire with Iran at Pakistan鈥檚 request as he waits for a 鈥渦nified proposal鈥� from the Islamic Republic, but that the U.S. military will continue its blockade of Iranian ports.
Trump added that 鈥渉e鈥檚 directed our Military to continue the Blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able, and will therefore extend the Ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other.鈥�
The president made the move even as the White House has put on hold Vice President JD Vance鈥檚 expected trip to Islamabad for a second round of talks as Tehran, at least for time being, is balking at further talks.
Israel and Hezbollah trade fire with talks expected this week
Israel and the Lebanon-based, Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah traded some fire on Tuesday, even as more talks are expected in Washington this week after a went into effect last Friday.
Hezbollah said it had fired rockets and drones at Israeli forces maintaining a buffer zone in southern Lebanon, accusing Israel of breaching the truce with 鈥渁ttacks on civilians and the destruction of their homes and villages.鈥�
In response, Israel said it had struck the launcher, calling Hezbollah鈥檚 strikes a blatant violation of the ceasefire.
Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel, particularly its northern border communities, shortly after the Iran war started. Israeli forces have engaged in fierce battles with the militants in southern Lebanon as they pushed to create what officials have called a 鈥渟ecurity zone.鈥�
A senior Iranian commander threatens to destroy the region鈥檚 oil industry if war resumes
Gen. Majid Mousavi, the aerospace chief for the Revolutionary Guard, said in comments on Iranian media that it would be a mistake to carry out 鈥渁ggression鈥� against Iran. He also said the region鈥檚 oil facilities would be harmed if neighboring countries allow the U.S. to carry out attacks.
鈥淚f southern neighbors allow the enemy to use their facilities to attack Iran, they should say goodbye to oil production in the Middle East region,鈥� he said.
The U.S. has bases and troops in several countries across the region.
Iranian foreign minister says US blockade of its ports is violation of ceasefire
As news came that the U.S. delegation was pausing its travel to Islamabad, Iran鈥檚 top diplomat posted on X saying that American forces boarding an Iranian oil tanker earlier Tuesday was an act of war.
鈥淪triking a commercial vessel and taking its crew hostage is an even greater violation,鈥� Abbas Araghchi said in a post. 鈥淚ran knows how to neutralize restrictions, how to defend its interests, and how to resist bullying.鈥�
Iran鈥檚 UN envoy says his government has 鈥榬eceived some sign鈥� the US is ready to stop the blockade
Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said Tuesday that as soon as Washington ends the blockade, 鈥淚 think the next round of the negotiations will take place in Islamabad.鈥�
He called the U.S. naval blockade a violation of the ceasefire, and reiterated that lifting it is a condition for new negotiations to take place. The United States has not publicly indicated that it will lift the blockade.
The U.S. started the war against Iran, Iravani said, and if they want to return to the negotiating table 鈥渁nd find a political solution, they will find us ready.鈥�
鈥淚f they want to go to the war, in this case also Iran is ready for that,鈥� he told a small group of reporters at U.N. headquarters in New York.
Iran鈥檚 state TV denies 8 women are at risk of execution
State TV quoted the Iranian judiciary鈥檚 Mizan news agency denying Trump鈥檚 claims that the women are facing execution. It said some have already been released, while others face charges that 鈥� if upheld by the courts 鈥� would ultimately result in prison sentences rather than execution.
It didn鈥檛 name which women were allegedly released.
Human rights centers have reported that at least two of the women were facing charges that carry a death sentence.
Pakistani officials race to salvage ceasefire talks
Two officials say Pakistani leaders were engaged in intensive mediation efforts late Tuesday to ensure the second round of ceasefire talks takes place.
The officials said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and the prime minister鈥檚 national security adviser were involved in the push.
Despite a delay by Iran in sending its delegation to Islamabad, 鈥渙verall optimism endures among decision makers in Pakistan,鈥� the officials said.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
鈥� By Munir Ahmed in Islamabad.
6 Iranian women and 2 teenagers, mostly detained during January protests, are on Trump鈥檚 appeal for release
Bita Hemmati was sentenced to death in Tehran after taking part in the protests, according to the Washington-based Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights in Iran.
Mahboubeh Shabani was arrested in the city of Mashhad during the protests. She鈥檚 charged with 鈥渆nmity of God,鈥� which carries the death sentence, according to human rights monitor Hengaw.
Diana Taher Abadi and Ghazal Ghalandari are both 16, and were arrested separately in Karaj, west of Tehran, and Yasuj in southwestern Iran during the protests, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists 草莓传媒 Agency.
Venus Hossein Nejad, from the Bahai faith, was arrested in January from her workplace in southeast Iran. She was forced to confess on state TV and was accused with others of organizing protests and being members of a 鈥渟atanic network and under the influence of Israel,鈥� the Oslo-based Iran Human Rights said.
Golnar Naraqi, a 37-year-old emergency physician, was arrested in Tehran during the protests, according to a state-affiliated newspaper.
Two women were identified by Iranian social media as Ensieh Nejati and Panah Movahhedi Salamat. There was no immediate confirmed reports about their whereabouts.
Trump calls on Iran to release 8 women ahead of potential truce talks
The president reposted a photo of six women and two teen girls on social media Tuesday morning that a conservative activist noted are facing prosecution by the Iranian government.
鈥淚 am sure that they will respect the fact that you did so. Please do them no harm!鈥� Trump posted. 鈥淲ould be a great start to our negotiations!!!鈥�
Five of those in the photo flagged by Trump were arrested during widespread anti-government protests earlier this year, according to human rights groups.
One of the women, from Iran鈥檚 minority Bahai faith, is accused of being part of a network described as 鈥渟atanic and under the influence of Israel.鈥�
Iranian media sites identified two others in Trump鈥檚 posting but did not offer details on why they were detained.
Iran鈥檚 Foreign Ministry spokesperson says his government has not yet decided whether to join ceasefire negotiations
Esmail Baghaei told state TV late Tuesday that Iran was upset about what he called mixed messages from the Americans.
鈥淚t is not out of indecisiveness, it is because we are facing contradictory messages and behaviors, and unacceptable actions from the American counterpart,鈥� he said.
US military seeks to boost spending on drones, air defenses and fighter jets
As part of Trump鈥檚 push to to $1.5 trillion in the 2027 budget, the Pentagon wants to triple spending on drones and related technology to more than $74 billion and invest over $30 billion into more critical munitions.
That includes missile interceptors, whose stockpiles have become critically low during the Iran war.
Military officials said the spending blueprint was developed ahead of the conflict in the Middle East. They also did not discuss how much they will request in .
Drones and other unmanned vehicles have emerged as a key weapon in the wars in Ukraine and Iran, and top Pentagon officials say the U.S. must significantly increase its funding of both drones and counter-drone systems.
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Israel鈥檚 military says it has replaced a crucifix in southern Lebanon after a soldier smashed it down
The Israeli military posted a photo on social media of the replacement crucifix, which appeared smaller but more ornate than the original statue that a soldier was photographed destroying in southern Lebanon. Israel says two soldiers involved in the episode will be held for a month in military detention.
Tuesday鈥檚 post on X said troops worked with the community in the Lebanese village of Debel to coordinate the replacement, which includes a metallic-sheened Jesus figure and four paintings of saints, one on each arm of the cross.
Christians are estimated to make up around a third of Lebanon鈥檚 population of roughly 5.5 million people. were displaced from their homes in the country鈥檚 south during the war.
EU diplomats agree to new sanctions targeting Iranians obstructing freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz
鈥淭oday we also reach the political agreement to widen our sanctions regime, to also target those responsible for breaches to freedom of navigation,鈥� said the 27-nation European Union鈥檚 foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, after a Tuesday gathering in Luxembourg.
鈥淔reedom of navigation is non-negotiable. Daily U-turns where the Strait of Hormuz is open or closed, are reckless. Transit through the strait must remain free of charge,鈥� she said, referring to on the Strait of Hormuz.
Kallas said the EU鈥檚 maritime security mission would be 鈥渢he quickest way鈥� to ensure safe transit in the Persian Gulf after peace is settled.
Iran-allied Yemeni rebels warn against escalation in the region
Even if the U.S.-Iran ceasefire holds and the current war ends, the leader of Yemen鈥檚 Houthi rebel group said 鈥渢here is no doubt that further rounds of fighting are coming, as it is merely a truce within a continuous conflict with the enemy.鈥�
In a televised speech Tuesday, Abdul Malik al-Houthi warned that escalation in the region is 鈥減ossibly high鈥� as the 鈥渇ragile鈥� ceasefire is nearing an end.
A Houthi missile attack on Israel last month raised concern that Iran鈥檚 ally in Yemen may again try to block Red Sea shipping routes, as it did during the war in Gaza.
Gulf shipping crews are stranded amid maritime attacks, UN agency warns
At least 10 seafarers have been killed and several more severely injured in a series of attacks on commercial vessels around the Persian Gulf since the start of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, according to the International Maritime Organization, the United Nations agency responsible for regulating global shipping.
IMO spokesperson Natasha Brown said the agency has confirmed 25 attacks on commercial shipping since Feb. 28. Hundreds of ships have been since.
鈥淎round 20,000 civilian seafarers remain aboard vessels in the Persian Gulf, facing dwindling supplies, fatigue and severe psychological stress,鈥� Brown added.
Following an extraordinary council session in March, the IMO said it is working with 鈥渞elevant states on the development of a safe passage framework鈥� to evacuate stranded crews, while coordinating access to supplies.
A new budget request from the Pentagon would triple spending on drone technology
The $1.5 trillion budget proposal detailed Tuesday by defense officials would allocate nearly $54 billion for military drones and related technology, as well as $21 billion for weapons systems designed to take down enemy drones.
鈥淒rone warfare is rapidly reshaping the modern battlefield,鈥� Jules Hurst III, the acting undersecretary of defense, comptroller, told reporters during a budget briefing at the Pentagon.
Israel disciplines 2 soldiers for destruction of Jesus statue
One of the soldiers photographed the other using what appears to be a sledgehammer to hack down the crucifix during military operations in the Lebanese village. The two will be held in military detention for 30 days.
鈥淭he soldiers鈥� conduct completely deviated from IDF orders and values,鈥� said a military statement, using the acronym for the Israeli military.
The disciplinary measures come after the photo of the incident attracted worldwide attention and condemnations from Christian religious leaders. Israel鈥檚 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar have also denounced the incident.
The military said that six other soldiers who stood by without intervening would be summoned for conversations with higher-ups and that military protocol for dealing with religious buildings and artifacts were reemphasized to troops in the area.
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