Main developments
Donald Trump said he would extend Washington’s ceasefire with Tehran as the US and Iran potentially seek to continue peace talks.
His announcement came as Iranian officials said they will not attend talks in Pakistan on Wednesday, according to the Tasnim news agency, which is closely affiliated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.
Brent crude rose above $100 a barrel for the first time in a week, with US vice-president JD Vance still in the US on Tuesday afternoon, but dipped after Trump’s ceasefire extension.
The head of the Revolutionary Guards’ aerospace force warned that neighbouring countries will have to “say goodbye to oil production in the Middle East” if a further series of strikes takes place.
Earlier on Tuesday, Trump said he expected a “great deal” with Iran but repeated that he did not want to extend the existing ceasefire, which was due to expire on Wednesday. He reiterated his threats to attack Iran’s infrastructure if Tehran does not agree to a deal.
Iran’s foreign minister had warned that “blockading Iranian ports is an act of war and thus a violation of the ceasefire”, while the country’s ambassador to the UN said the US military’s seizure of an Iranian vessel off the coast of Oman on Sunday constituted a violation of international law.
Israel said Hizbollah fired rockets at its forces in southern Lebanon for the first time since a US-backed ceasefire went into effect last week.
US forces boarded a crude oil tanker in the Indo-Pacific region overnight, as Washington steps up its pursuit of shipping linked to Iran.
Trump extends ceasefire with Iran until talks conclude
Donald Trump said he would extend Washington’s ceasefire with Tehran as the US and Iran potentially seek to continue peace talks.
The US president said in a post on Truth Social that he had been asked by Pakistan’s prime minister to “hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal”.
Trump said he has directed the US military to continue its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and “will therefore extend the Ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other”.
The peace talks had been due to take place in Pakistan this week. The ceasefire was initially expected to expire on Wednesday.
Iranian officials will not be in Islamabad on Wednesday
Iranian officials will not attend talks in Pakistan on Wednesday, according to the Tasnim news agency, which is closely affiliated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.
Tasnim reported that Iranian officials on Tuesday told Pakistani mediators they would not be in Islamabad and that there was currently no prospect of negotiations.
They blamed the US for breaking the ceasefire and making “excessive demands”.
Tasnim also reported that messages exchanged between Tehran and Washington this week had made “no meaningful progress” and attending any talks would be “a waste of time”.