TEHRAN: The fragile peace brokered in Islamabad faced a severe test on Tuesday as Tehran labelled U.S. President Donald Trump’s unilateral ceasefire extension a strategic deception. Mahdi Mohammadi, a senior adviser to Iran’s Parliament Speaker and lead negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, cautioned that the move is likely a “ploy to buy time” for a surprise military strike.
The tension comes as the U.S. Navy maintains its blockade of Iranian ports—a move Mr Trump confirmed would continue until a “unified proposal” is received from Tehran. Iranian officials have countered that the blockade is “no different from bombardment” and constitutes a violation of the existing truce.
While Pakistani mediators, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, successfully lobbied Washington for the extension to prevent a scheduled strike, the rhetoric from Tehran suggests a deepening mistrust. Mr. Qalibaf’s office indicated that Iran may now “take the initiative,” signaling that the window for a diplomatic resolution in Islamabad is narrowing rapidly.
