President Donald Trump announced plans to extend the current ceasefire with Iran while keeping the U.S. maritime blockade in place. This decision comes after requests from Pakistan's leaders, who want more time to work...
President Donald Trump announced plans to extend the current ceasefire with Iran while keeping the U.S. maritime blockade in place. This decision comes after requests from Pakistan's leaders, who want more time to work on a unified negotiating proposal with Iran.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump explained that he was asked by Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff and Prime Minister to postpone any U.S. military action against Iran. He emphasized that U.S. forces will “continue the Blockade” and stay “ready and able” as discussions progress.
“Due to the serious divisions within the Iranian Government... we have been asked to delay our Attack on Iran until their leaders and representatives can provide a unified proposal. Therefore, I have instructed our Military to maintain the Blockade and remain prepared for action until their proposal is submitted and discussions are finalized, regardless of the outcome,” stated President Trump.
This announcement indicates a pause in escalating tensions, but it does not signal a complete de-escalation. By maintaining the blockade, Washington is continuing to apply pressure on Iran’s oil exports and maritime operations, which is a key issue in ongoing negotiations and is already affecting global shipping patterns.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent mentioned that the U.S. will keep its maximum economic pressure alongside the naval blockade, warning that Iran’s oil system is close to breaking point.
“As Donald Trump has made clear, the United States Navy will maintain the blockade of Iranian ports,” Bessent stated. He noted that storage at Kharg Island could reach capacity in a matter of days, which could lead to shutdowns in Iran’s oil fields. He added that limiting maritime trade directly impacts Tehran’s primary sources of revenue, with the Treasury planning to “systematically degrade” Iran’s ability to generate, move, and repatriate funds. He cautioned that any vessel or intermediary involved in facilitating these operations risks exposure to U.S. sanctions, as authorities work to freeze assets linked to Iranian leaders.
The maritime industry feels the effects immediately. U.S. forces have the authority to stop, board, and seize vessels involved in Iranian trade, effectively extending enforcement actions beyond the initial two-week ceasefire period. Meanwhile, Iran's tightening control over waterway access is also a growing concern, with transits increasingly subject to the control of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This requires coordination, approval, and routing through corridors designated by Tehran, placing control over the Strait under Iranian oversight.
Moreover, Trump’s statement indicates that the ceasefire is now conditional, depending on Iran's ability to present a “unified proposal,” introducing new uncertainty about when and how a potential deal might be reached.
This development occurs as conditions in the Strait of Hormuz remain tense, with vessel traffic displaying a fractured pattern due to overlapping Iranian controls and U.S. enforcement of the maritime blockade.
On Tuesday, U.S. forces broadened their efforts beyond the Gulf by boarding the sanctioned tanker Tifani in the southern Bay of Bengal as part of a maritime interdiction operation. This was the second boarding since the conflict began in late February.
Officials stated that the stateless vessel Tifani, which had been sanctioned in July 2025 for transporting Iranian oil and was accused of falsely flying the Botswana flag, was stopped and boarded without incident. This action is part of Washington’s broader strategy to disrupt Iran’s shadow fleet. The vessel had reportedly loaded oil at Iran’s Kharg Island earlier in April.
For the time being, Trump’s comments suggest that a return to normal shipping conditions is unlikely in the near future.