[Comprehensive] Trump "Ceasefire extension until Iran submits unified proposal and negotiations conclude"

U.S. President Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump abruptly declared an extension of the 'two-week ceasefire' with Iran on the 21st (local time), a day before its expiration.

The exact deadline for the ceasefire extension was not specified. It was only stated to be "until Iran presents a unified negotiation proposal and discussions conclude," effectively extending the ceasefire indefinitely.

President Trump announced in a statement posted on social media Truth Social that "due to the fact that the Iranian government is seriously divided as expected, and at the request of Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, I have received a request to halt attacks on Iran until the Iranian leadership and negotiating team prepare a unified proposal."

President Trump continued, stating, "I will extend the ceasefire until their proposal is submitted and discussions (bilateral negotiations) conclude in any direction."

However, President Trump added that the naval blockade against Iran would continue, and other readiness measures would also be maintained.

President Trump's ceasefire declaration came the day before the expiration of the 'two-week ceasefire'. President Trump had previously stated that the two-week ceasefire with Iran would last until the evening of the 22nd, Eastern U.S. time.

President Trump had repeatedly threatened that he did not wish to extend the two-week ceasefire upon its expiration and would resume attacks if Iran did not agree to a deal, but ultimately chose to extend it just before the deadline.

The reasons cited for the ceasefire extension were Pakistan's request, which took on a mediating role, and the internal divisions within Iran. President Trump had previously claimed to be negotiating with a new Iranian leadership due to a de facto regime change, and by citing disagreements within the Iranian military and negotiating team, he attempted to justify the ceasefire extension.

There is also an analysis that by extending the ceasefire "until Iran presents a unified negotiation proposal and discussions conclude in any direction," it effectively means declaring a ceasefire without setting a specific deadline.

This seems to mean that the ceasefire will be maintained until negotiations with Iran proceed and a result is achieved in some way. If Iran accepts and there are no major variables, a ceasefire of several months or more could be possible.

Even if the ceasefire is extended, it was made clear that the naval blockade against Iran would continue, and readiness for resuming attacks would also be maintained.

It is unclear whether President Trump's declaration of a ceasefire extension was made in communication with Iran. Iran's statement, which had demanded the lifting of the naval blockade against it and had not clarified its participation in negotiations until the last minute, is drawing attention.

The U.S. delegation led by Vice President JD Vance was originally scheduled to depart for Pakistan this morning, but it was reported that they remained at the White House until this afternoon, leading to skepticism about whether negotiations could resume before the two-week ceasefire expired.