Inside Trump’s decision to extend Iran truce

President Trump extended the ceasefire with Iran after an urgent White House meeting with his national security team, amid hopes that Iran’s fractured leadership will reach a consensus on talks.

By World Israel News Staff

President Donald Trump extended the ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday after an urgent White House meeting with his national security team agreed the United States should give Iran’s fractured leadership an opportunity to reach a consensus on nuclear talks, CNN reported on Wednesday morning.

According to the report, which cited US officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, the decision came as the administration waited for a response to a list of broad US deal terms that had been sent to Iran ahead of a planned new round of talks in Pakistan.

Vice President JD Vance had been set to depart for Islamabad, with Air Force Two already on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews.

But US officials had still received no reply from the Iranians, casting doubt on whether the trip would be productive.

Trump met Tuesday afternoon with Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine as the ceasefire deadline approached.

According to officials familiar with the discussions, the administration believes the silence reflects internal fractures within Iran’s leadership.

US officials suspect Iranian leaders remain divided over key issues, including uranium enrichment and the fate of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

They also believe uncertainty surrounding Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s instructions may be complicating Tehran’s ability to formulate a unified position.

Rather than resume military action immediately, Trump chose to keep the truce in place without setting a new deadline.

In a Truth Social post, Trump described Iranian officials as “seriously fractured” and said he was extending the ceasefire.

He later said the pause would remain in place “until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other.”

The administration is still pushing for diplomacy, but Trump made clear he will not ease pressure in the meantime.

“We’re not going to open the strait until we have a final deal,” Trump said on CNBC, referring to Iran’s demand that the US lift its blockade on ships moving to and from Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz before new talks begin.

Iranian officials signaled they were not impressed by the extension.

“Trump’s ceasefire extension means nothing,” said Mahdi Mohammadi, an adviser to Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

“The losing side cannot dictate terms,” he said. “The continuation of the siege is no different from bombardment and must be met with a military response.”

US officials said talks could still be arranged quickly if Iran shows it is prepared to return to the table. But major disputes remain unresolved, including Iran’s future nuclear activity, the status of its uranium stockpile, and what sanctions relief, if any, the US would offer.

Behind the scenes, some Trump advisers have also warned that extending the ceasefire without a clear deadline could give Iran more time to stall while preserving what remains of its military capabilities.

Nevertheless, Trump projected confidence that an agreement is still possible.

“What I think is that we’re going to end up with a great deal,” he said. “I think they have no choice.”