Trump Doubts Ceasefire Extension? US-Iran Negotiations Accelerate Ahead of Deadline
US President Donald Trump said it was unlikely he would extend the two-week ceasefire with Iran, increasing the urgency for negotiators to finalize a deal to end the war. Trump said the ceasefire announced on April 7 would expire “Wednesday night Washington time,” but he said it would be “highly unlikely” to be extended if a deal wasn’t reached by the deadline.
While refusing to rush, Trump emphasized that the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would remain in place until a deal was signed. He said Iran wanted the waterway opened, but the US would not lift the blockade until a deal was reached. Iran had previously stated it would reopen the energy shipping lane, but reversed its decision after Trump refused to lift the US blockade.
Details of the next negotiating session in Pakistan are beginning to emerge. Trump said Vice President JD Vance would depart Monday to continue talks “Tuesday night or Wednesday morning,” accompanied by Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff. On the other hand, Iran is said to be sending a negotiating team, although it is unclear who will lead it, after Tehran previously expressed hesitation about participating in further talks.
Ahead of the talks, both sides are strengthening their bargaining positions. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed a "historical distrust" of the US government's behavior and emphasized that Iran will not bow to coercion, after Trump warned that Iran would be "hit very hard" if no deal is reached. At the same time, the most sensitive issue remains Iran's nuclear program, including US demands that Iran abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions and hand over its stockpile of enriched uranium, which Tehran has refused to accept.
Iran's internal dynamics are also said to be affecting the room for compromise. Some conservative elements, including within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), view the continuation of the US blockade as a signal that Trump cannot be trusted and are pushing for a tougher negotiating stance. On the other hand, there is a camp that is considered more pragmatic and tends to open the door to a deal, although these differing views have the potential to trigger misinterpretations at the negotiating table as the deadline approaches.
On the market side, Trump's comments weighed on risk sentiment after equities fell from record highs and a five-day rally stalled. Oil prices rose more than 5% on Monday, with Brent trading near $95 per barrel, as investors assessed that the smooth flow of energy through Hormuz was still far from restored. Amid the combination of energy supply risks and diplomatic uncertainty, gold is likely to regain traction as a hedge, although its ultimate direction remains sensitive to changes in market risk appetite and dollar movements.
5 key points (detailed & simplified):
- Trump believes it is unlikely to extend the US-Iran ceasefire, which expires Wednesday night Washington time.
- Trump emphasized that the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz will remain in place until an agreement is signed.
- The next negotiating session in Pakistan is starting to narrow; JD Vance is scheduled to travel, along with Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.
- Iran is said to be sending a team, but Tehran remains cautious, with key issues including the blockade and its nuclear program (enriched uranium).
- Markets responded defensively: equities weakened, oil rose >5%, and Brent approached $95, while gold potentially found support as a hedge against uncertainty. (asd)*
Source: Newsmaker.id
