Ceasefire only prolonged, tensions remain

लगानी न्यूज

९ बैशाख २०८३, बुधबार १२:१८April 22, 2026

. U.S. President Donald Trump has indefinitely extended a ceasefire with Iran in an effort to reach a negotiated settlement, but the situation on the ground remains uncertain and tense.

This decision to give time to the peace effort is accompanied by diplomatic initiative and military pressure. The US side has said that the deadline for the ceasefire has been postponed, pointing out the need to give more opportunities to the talks being mediated by Pakistan.

Trump said he should give Iran’s leadership time to come up with a proposal, saying it was being extended indefinitely when the two-week deadline was set to expire.TAG_OPEN_div_52 However, he made it clear that the US sanctions on Iranian ports would remain in place, which has become a major contentious topic of the talks.

In a public statement on social media, Trump accused Iran of trying to keep the Strait of Hormuz open.TAG_OPEN_div_50 He claimed that Iran would earn about $ 500 million a day by keeping the strait open. He stressed that maintaining US control of the waterway, which supplies about a fifth of the world’s oil and gas, is strategically important. He indicated that an effective deal with Iran would not be possible if sanctions were lifted.

Earlier, he said he had no desire to extend the ceasefire and warned that the offensive could resume after the deadline expired.TAG_OPEN_div_48 But in his latest decision, he said the army had been instructed to maintain the blockade and be prepared for all possible scenarios. He said the ceasefire would continue until there was a concrete proposal from Iran.

Pakistan said on Tuesday the ceasefire would end at 2350 GMT, while Iran said it would end at 0000 GMT.TAG_OPEN_div_46 Iran has not officially commented on Trump’s decision, though no new military activity has been announced as the deadline approaches.

Meanwhile, the peace talks to be held in Islamabad at the initiative of Pakistan have also become uncertain.TAG_OPEN_div_44 U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance’s planned trip to the White House has been postponed at the last minute, a White House official has confirmed. In Islamabad, security forces have cordoned off government areas on high alert, reflecting the sensitivity of the talks.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif welcomed the extension of the ceasefire and thanked the US decision, while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also took it as a positive step.TAG_OPEN_div_42 However, Iran has threatened to attack oil infrastructure in the Gulf if it uses its territory, which has further escalated tensions.

After the first round of talks, the US side announced that it would block Iranian ports.TAG_OPEN_div_40 According to US Treasury Secretary Scott Besant, the oil reserves on Kharg Island may be filled up in a few days and production will be affected. He said the suspension of Iran’s maritime trade would have a direct impact on its main revenue source. It also warned that any person or ship that helped evade sanctions could be subject to US sanctions.

The U.S. Department of Defense said it had intercepted and seized a “stateless” ship that was linked to Iranian activities.TAG_OPEN_div_38 Both sides have accused each other of ceasefire violations, deepening the crisis in trust.

Civilians in Tehran say life has not been easy despite the ceasefire.TAG_OPEN_div_36 A 39-year-old resident said the “painful ceasefire had made life even more difficult”. Experts say Iran’s public silence could be a tactic to put pressure on Washington.

}Analysts say the current situation has evolved into more political tolerance and negotiating competition than military. Despite the uncertainty, optimism about a possible deal has seen positive signs in the international market.

In this context, another front in the Middle East is also active. Israel and Lebanon, which have no formal diplomatic ties, are expected to hold new talks in Washington on Thursday. Earlier, the two sides had agreed to a separate 10-day ceasefire, including that of Iran-backed Hezbollah.

But sporadic violence continues in southern Lebanon, with Israeli forces warning residents of dozens of villages not to return home.TAG_OPEN_div_30 On Tuesday, Israel said the attack on the launch site was in retaliation, accusing Hezbollah of firing too many rockets at its forces.

According to Lebanese government figures, at least 2,4 TAG_OPEN_div_28 54 people have been killed since the war began. Hezbollah also said the attack in northern Israel was a response to Israel’s ceasefire violations, the first such claim since the ceasefire.