Trump Extends Iran Ceasefire as Talks Stall Amid Deepening Diplomatic Deadlock and Silence from Tehran

A fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran has been extended by President Donald Trump as diplomatic negotiations falter amid growing uncertainty and an apparent breakdown in communication with Tehran.

The decision follows days of silence from Iranian officials after Washington submitted a set of broad proposals intended to guide the next phase of talks. US officials say the lack of response has raised serious questions about whether negotiations can continue on schedule.

At the White House, President Trump met senior members of his national security team, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, top military officials and intelligence chiefs, to assess the situation and consider next steps.

US officials believe internal divisions within Iran’s leadership may be contributing to the stalled talks. According to senior administration figures, Tehran appears unable to present a unified position on key issues, including uranium enrichment levels and the handling of its enriched nuclear stockpile.

There is also growing concern in Washington that unclear direction from Iran’s leadership is slowing decision-making, making it difficult for negotiators to engage with authority or certainty.

Despite the deadlock, President Trump approved an extension of the ceasefire, which had been due to expire after two weeks. The White House did not set a new deadline, a move officials say is intended to keep diplomatic channels open, though it risks prolonging the stalemate.

Iranian officials have pushed back firmly against the extension. One adviser to Iran’s parliamentary leadership dismissed the ceasefire as ineffective, warning that continued pressure would be met with resistance. Tehran has insisted that sanctions relief and easing of restrictions, particularly around maritime access, must come first before meaningful talks can resume.

Key sticking points remain unresolved, including limits on Iran’s uranium enrichment programme, the status of its enriched stockpile, and the scope of any potential sanctions relief. The US has also made clear it will not return to a framework resembling the 2015 nuclear agreement, which President Trump withdrew from during his first term.

Despite the tensions, both sides have left the door open to future engagement, though there is still no clear timeline for when negotiations might restart or whether the current diplomatic channel through Pakistan will yield progress.