Shortly before the deadline Trump extends ceasefire - Iran suspicious
US President Donald Trump has surprisingly declared the ceasefire with Iran to be unilaterally extended at the last minute.
22.04.2026, 06:10
22.04.2026, 06:42
SDA
At Pakistan's request, he will refrain from attacks until the leadership in Iran submits a "united proposal" to settle the war, he announced on Truth Social. However, the US naval blockade of Iranian ports will continue.
Tehran has not requested an extension of the ceasefire, the Iranian news agency Tasnim reported, citing sources. Iran's official position will be announced at a later date, it said.
Meanwhile, an advisor to Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf dismissed Trump's announcement on Platform X as meaningless. The "losing side cannot dictate the terms", wrote Mahdi Mohammadi. The continuation of the US naval blockade is tantamount to bombing and must be responded to militarily.
Iran shows mistrust and threatens
Iran will not open the Strait of Hormuz, which is important for the global oil market, as long as the US blockade continues, reported the Tasnim news agency. If necessary, it will be broken by force, wrote the mouthpiece of the powerful Revolutionary Guards. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X shortly before the ceasefire expired: "Blocking Iranian ports is an act of war and therefore a violation of the ceasefire".
Ghalibaf, advisor to the speaker of parliament, suspects that Trump's extension of the ceasefire is a ploy to "buy time for a surprise attack". It is time for Tehran to take the initiative, Mohammadi wrote on X. A spokesman for the Iranian military wrote on the platform that they remained on "high alert" and were ready to "react quickly and decisively" to threats or actions by the enemy.
According to the Fars agency, a commander of the Revolutionary Guards named oil fields and refineries in neighboring Gulf states as potential targets if they continue to allow the US and Israel to "use their territory". The US regional command Centcom wrote on X that it remained operational.
No sigh of relief on the oil market
Against this backdrop, there are no signs of any real easing on the oil markets. Before Trump's announcement, Brent crude for delivery in June was back above one hundred dollars for the first time in over a week. Subsequently, the price fell only slightly and most recently stood at 99 dollars.
What is Israel doing?
It remains unclear for the time being whether Iran will feel bound by the ceasefire announced by Trump. The same applies to Israel. There was initially no reaction to Trump's announcement from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Iran's arch-enemy and the USA started the war together on February 28. Without an extension, the ceasefire would have expired on Thursday night, according to Trump.
Trump: Iran's leadership divided
Trump wrote that the leadership in Iran was unsurprisingly deeply divided. He will therefore extend the ceasefire until there is a "united proposal" from Iran and the talks come to an end, "one way or another". The previous day, the US President had described an extension of the ceasefire as "very unlikely".
Middle East expert Thomas Juneau from the University of Ottawa described the situation on X as a "fragile stalemate". Both sides expected the other to concede first. For the time being, both preferred not to resume fighting. "Each side believes it has the advantage," he wrote. Iran believes that Trump has a "significantly lower pain threshold" and will hesitate to resume the war in view of growing discontent in his own country and the upcoming midterm elections, it said.
US Treasury Secretary: Blockade deprives Iran of important revenues
According to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the USA, on the other hand, believes it has effective leverage with its naval blockade. The storage facilities on the island of Kharg, which is important for the oil trade, would be full in a few days, which is why the oil fields would have to be shut down, the US Treasury Secretary wrote on X. "Restricting Iran's maritime trade directly targets the regime's most important sources of revenue," Bessent added.
The US magazine "Time" reported that the power situation in Iran has continued to consolidate since the start of the war. The responsibility for questions of war, diplomacy and escalation had increasingly shifted to a relatively closed military-security core. Iran's decision-making processes have changed since Modshtaba Khamenei was appointed Supreme Leader following the killing of his father, it was said.
Khamenei Junior is no longer all-powerful, but acts as one voice in a broader consensus-building process among security elites, the magazine continued. There have been no audio or video recordings of Modshaba Khamenei since his appointment on March 8, and no one knows what his health status is or what role he plays in the system.
Pakistan thanks Trump
Meanwhile, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked Trump on X for complying with Islamabad's request for an extension of the ceasefire "to continue ongoing diplomatic efforts." Tasnim had previously reported that Tehran's representatives would not be traveling to Pakistan for new negotiations. Islamabad is mediating in the conflict.
Military planning deployment to secure the Strait of Hormuz
Meanwhile, military personnel from 30 countries are meeting today at the British military headquarters Northwood in London for a possible operation to secure the Strait of Hormuz after the end of hostilities. The two-day planning meeting, organized by the UK and France, follows an international conference in Paris last week. London and Paris want to organize a neutral naval operation, clearly differentiated from the warring parties, to escort and secure merchant ships. Germany is also considering a contribution to mine clearance and maritime reconnaissance.
