Kamal Ghorui
US President Donald Trump has reportedly given Iran a limited window of “three to five days” to come up with a unified proposal for negotiations, with American officials indicating the current ceasefire extension will not continue indefinitely, according to an Axios report citing three US officials.The report said Trump’s move amounts to a short deadline for Tehran, with one US source briefed on the matter telling Axios, “Trump is willing to give another three to five days of ceasefire to allow the Iranians to get their shit together. It is not going to be open-ended.”According to the officials cited in the report, the ceasefire extension is aimed at pushing Iran’s leadership to consolidate its negotiating position before the temporary truce expires, after which Washington could determine its next course of action depending on Tehran’s response.Earlier, Trump said Wednesday he had decided to extend the ceasefire to allow Iran’s leadership more time to present a coherent negotiating proposal. Trump posted on social media that he would “extend the Ceasefire” until Iran came up with a proposal to end the conflict, while directing the US military to continue a naval blockade of Iranian ports.Trump’s ceasefire extension came hours before the truce was believed to be set to expire. He said the decision followed requests from Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while citing divisions within Iran’s leadership.In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “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.”He added, “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.”The ceasefire, brokered earlier this month to create space for diplomacy, has remained fragile, with both sides voicing reservations over implementation.Meanwhile, the White House said Vice President JD Vance would not travel to Pakistan for what had been expected to be a second round of peace talks. A White House official said, “The trip to Pakistan will not be happening today. Any further updates on in-person meetings will be announced by the White House.”
