Donald Trump backs down for FIFTH time as he issues major Iran update

Donald Trump issued a major update just hours before the original deadline he had set for the US ceasefire with Iran was set to expire. The US President said on Tuesday evening he had agreed to delay any fresh military action after what he described as a request from Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir.

He wrote on Truth Social: "Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, we have been asked to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal. I have therefore directed our Military to continue the Blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able, and will therefore extend the Ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other. President DONALD J. TRUMP"

The two-week ceasefire was due to expire in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

US Vice President JD Vance had been expected to travel to Islamabad today to lead the US side in a second round of peace talks with Iranian officials.

However, reports on Tuesday evening suggested the Vice President had remained in Washington amid uncertainty over whether Tehran would send a delegation.

According to The Times of Israel, a White House official said: “Additional policy meetings are taking place at the White House in which the vice president will participate.”

The apparent delay came as tensions continued to rise following the US seizure of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman.

Iranian Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, took to X on Tuesday evening to say that blockading Iranian ports is an "act of war and thus a violation of the ceasefire".

He added that "Striking a commercial vessel and taking its crew hostage is an even greater violation."

The Pentagon earlier confirmed American forces boarded another sanctioned tanker between Monday and Tuesday night.

On Tuesday morning, the US president had been optimistic about the prospect of a deal.

He said: “We’re going to end up with a great deal,” but also claimed Iran had “no choice” but to send a delegation to Pakistan.

Trump also warned he was prepared to resume bombing if the talks failed.

Speaking on Tuesday evening, an Iranian commander threatened to destroy oil industry in the region if the war with the US resumes.

General Majid Mousavi told an Iranian news site: "If southern neighbours allow the enemy to use their facilities to attack Iran, they should say goodbye to oil production in the Middle East region."

Before making the announcement on Truth Social, Trump reportedly held talks at the White House with Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner.

The meeting came amid mounting uncertainty over whether fresh talks with Iran would go ahead.

This isn't the first time Mr Trump has pushed back a deadline he had set. After threatening on Easter Sunday to hit bridges and power plants in Iran should the country not open the Strait of Hormuz to all vessels, he called off the strike just hours before the deadline.