Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Islamabad is still awaiting an “official response” from Iran confirming its participation in peace talks with the US in which Pakistan is mediating, while remaining in “constant communication” with Tehran.
Tarar said on social media X on 21 April that the ceasefire ends at 4:50 a.m. Pakistan time on 22 April (7:50 p.m. US Eastern Standard Time on 21 April) and that Iran’s decision was “critical”.
Iranian state television later said the ceasefire would end at 3:30am Tehran time on 22 April (8:00pm US Eastern Standard Time on 21 April), AFP reported.
US President Donald Trump said the ceasefire would end on 22 April and that he did not want to extend it.
“We do not accept negotiations under threats,” Mohammad Qalibaf, head of the Iranian delegation and speaker of the country’s parliament, said the previous day. In particular, Iran is demanding the release of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship taken under control by the US military, which is enforcing a naval blockade of Iran, in the Gulf of Oman on 19 April. Iran, in turn, has a de facto blockade of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump has warned that the United States will resume attacks if an agreement with Iran is not reached soon, adding that the military is “ready for action” immediately, and hinting that he expects to use the bombings as a means of pressure in further negotiations if diplomatic efforts stall again.
Pakistan says it is still waiting for Iran’s response regarding participation in peace talks