US President Donald Trump said it is “highly unlikely” he would extend a two‑week ceasefire with Iran if a deal is not reached before it ends this week, warning that the Strait of Hormuz will remain blocked until a peace agreement is signed. Trump made the remarks in a phone interview, according to a Bloomberg report, and said the truce he announced on April 7 will expire on Wednesday evening Eastern Time.
Trump told Bloomberg he will not reopen the strait until a deal is finalized: “They want me to open it. The Iranians desperately want it opened. I’m not opening it until a deal is signed.” He added he will not be rushed into a bad agreement, saying, “We’ve got all the time in the world.”
The announcement coincided with reports that oil prices rose as Washington maintained its blockade and the U.S. Navy seized an Iranian‑flagged ship over the weekend, Xinhua reported. Asked whether strikes would resume immediately after the truce expires if no deal is reached, Trump replied, “If there’s no deal, I would certainly expect.”
In a separate phone call with PBS News, Trump warned bluntly that if the ceasefire lapses, “then lots of bombs start going off.” He expressed uncertainty about whether Iranian negotiators will attend new talks planned in Islamabad, saying, “I don’t know. I mean, they’re supposed to be there… And we’ll see whether or not it’s there. If they’re not there, that’s fine too.”
Trump told the New York Post that U.S. Vice President JD Vance is set to travel to Pakistan for a second round of negotiations with Iranian officials; The New York Times, citing two U.S. officials, reported Vance was expected to leave Washington on Tuesday. Trump said he would be willing to meet senior Iranian leaders if a breakthrough occurs but told Bloomberg he did not think his personal attendance would be necessary.
As of Monday morning, U.S. forces had turned back 27 ships to or from Iranian ports, the U.S. Central Command said on X, underscoring heightened maritime enforcement as diplomacy continues under a tight deadline.
Original Source: https://www.morungexpress.com/trump-says-it-is-highly-unlikely-to-extend-ceasefire-with-iran
Category: World
Tags:
Publish Date: 2026-04-21 10:53:00
