The United States has extended its ceasefire with Iran indefinitely, US President Donald Trump has said.
Posting on Truth Social, the social media network he owns, Trump said that the ceasefire will continue until Iranian "leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal."
Trump has, however, directed the US military to maintain its blockade on ships entering or leaving Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz region, and remain "ready and able" until a proposal is submitted and discussions are concluded.
Where are we in the Middle Eastern conflict?
Today (April 22) would mark the 53rd day since the United States and Israel began their coordinated attacks on Iran on February 28.
With a two-week ceasefire announced on April 8 set to expire at midnight on Tuesday, US Vice President JD Vance was scheduled to leave for a second round of talks with officials from Iran.
The trip was cancelled after Trump announced that the US would extend the ceasefire.
Both countries had indicated that they were prepared to resume hostilities when the ceasefire expired.
It was reported that Pakistani leaders, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, had pushed for a second round of talks even as that deadline approached.
Trump acknowledged requests from Pakistan to hold off any attack until Iran presented its "unified proposal", in his Truth Social post.
Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations, meanwhile, called the United States' continued naval blockade a violation of the existing ceasefire agreement.
Amir-Saeid Iravani was reported to have said that the removal of the blockade would be a pre-requisite for a second round of peace talks in Islamabad.
He added that Iran was prepared to pursue a political solution, but were also prepared if the US "choose escalation", though it would not be the welcome outcome for Iran.
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