The United States extended a temporary truce with Iran, which was about to expire. US President Donald Trump Announce On the evening of April 21, this decision was taken at the request of Pakistan (which is acting as a mediator in the negotiations). Trump indicated that he extended the ceasefire until the Iranian representatives presented their peace proposal and the negotiations were completed. Trump said that he ordered the US military to continue its siege of Iranian ports, “or else it will remain ready and able to act.”
Immediately before Trump’s statement, Iran accused the United States of violating the terms of the temporary truce. “The blockade of Iranian ports is an act of war and therefore a violation of the ceasefire. Attacking a commercial ship and its crew as hostages is an even more serious violation.” male Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on the evening of April 21. He added that Iran knows “how to protect its interests and how to withstand pressure.”
The United States and Iran were planning to hold talks before the end of the two-week trucewhich concluded on the night of April 8. The first round of negotiations was held in Islamabad on April 11 and 12, but the two sides were unable to agree on peace. They are expected to meet again in Islamabad as well. Trump said on April 19 that he had sent a US delegation to negotiations, but Iran refused to do so as long as the US military closed Iranian ports. According to Axios, the Iranian delegation received the green light from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on the evening of April 20. Meanwhile, Tasnim reported that Iran finally rejected negotiations with the United States scheduled for April 22.
The United States began blockading Iranian ports during a temporary truce. The blockade in the Strait of Hormuz began on the evening of April 13. The US military intercepted ships carrying Iranian goods and ships that entered Iranian territorial waters. It follows from the statements of Iranian officials that the naval blockade was the main reason behind Tehran’s unwillingness to participate in the negotiations.
One of the basic conditions for the temporary ceasefire was the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, an important route for oil supplies by sea. Tehran refused to open the strait to most ships, but allowed those with ties to Iran to pass through it. During the two weeks of the truce, the Strait of Hormuz was fully opened for only one day, on April 17, but the next day Iran closed it again to most ships.