April 21: Trump unilaterally extends truce as Iran rejects talks amid threats, blockade

By Press TV Website Staff

On a day marked by mixed signals from Washington and steadfast clarity from Tehran, Iran entered the final hours of the ceasefire, warning that it will not be coerced back into talks under American threats or maritime pressure.

Even as US President Donald Trump extended the truce late on Tuesday while vowing to maintain the illegal blockade on Iranian ports, and hinting in an interview that he is prepared to resume bombing, Iranian officials said the country stands fully prepared for any renewed aggression, with new "surprises" ready should the enemy attempt to reignite the war.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has already reiterated that the Islamic Republic will not negotiate "under the shadow of threats."

At the same time, the Foreign Ministry warned that Washington's contradictory behavior and unlawful actions make a second round of Pakistan-mediated talks far from certain.

As the IRGC escorted an Iranian oil tanker safely into home waters, and lawmakers advanced plans for a new legal regime over the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran signaled that its national power, not American ultimatums, will define the next phase.

Key developments on day 53 of the war, the fourteenth day of the ceasefire:

• US President Donald Trump wrote in a Truth Social post that the US is extending the ceasefire with Iran until an Iranian "proposal is submitted and discussions are concluded." Trump said he directed the US military to continue the "blockade" on Iranian ports. Earlier in the day, he told CNBC that he "expects to continue bombing Iran" if the US and Iran cannot reach a deal to extend the ceasefire by his deadline.
• Iran had stated that it was fully prepared for a possible resumption of war as the ceasefire deadline approached, with new "surprises" ready for any renewed round of imposed war, Tasnim News reported, citing informed sources.
• Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said that Tehran will not accept negotiations with Washington under the shadow of threats.
• Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said that Iran has not made a final decision on whether to participate in the next round of Pakistan-mediated talks with the United States, citing contradictory messages, inconsistent behavior, and unacceptable actions by the American side.
• Major General Ali Abdollahi, commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said the Islamic Republic's Armed Forces enjoy the upper hand in the face of the adversaries and, therefore, will not let Trump misrepresent the conditions governing the battlefield.
• In a viral post on X, Qalibaf also said the US is trying to prolong the war with Iran to serve objectives other than "making America great again" (MAGA).
• The Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee ratified a motion allowing the country to set up a new legal regime for the control of the Strait of Hormuz.
• The Iranian oil tanker Sili City entered Iran's territorial waters on Monday night after crossing the Arabian Sea, with operational support from the Islamic Republic of Iran's Navy, the army announced.
• Iran's Judiciary chief, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i, called for full readiness of all forces and sectors against the "defeated" US-Israeli war coalition, warning that they may once again resort to "savage aggression" against the country.
• The US Department of State announced it will hold new talks on Thursday following a fragile ceasefire with Iran, a US official told the AFP news agency.
• Ansarullah leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi stated that the Yemeni armed forces will return to fighting if a fragile ceasefire that halted 40 days of American-Israeli aggression against Iran expires without an agreement to end the war permanently.
• Iran's Judiciary dismissed claims by Trump that eight women are facing imminent execution in Iran.
• Iran's Foreign Ministry denounced the arrest of several individuals in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on "groundless pretexts," stating that anti-Iranian narratives cannot deflect from the responsibility of those supporting US-Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic.
• China called on the United States to demonstrate "sincerity" in resolving its prolonged standoff with Iran over its nuclear program, while censuring the joint US-Israeli military aggression against the country.
• Russia's deputy foreign minister Sergey Ryabkov said that the unprovoked and illegal attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran have dealt a heavy blow to the global nuclear non-proliferation regime and the IAEA safeguards system.
• Iran reopened Imam Khomeini and Mehrabad airports after weeks of war-related closures, aviation authorities said.
• The Trump administration implemented a new round of illegal sanctions targeting 14 individuals, companies, and aircraft in Iran, Turkey, and the UAE.
• The Director-General of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Fatih Birol, warned that US-Israeli aggression against Iran has caused the direst energy crisis in history.
• The social media platform X launched a sweeping campaign to suspend accounts opposed to the US-Israeli aggression against Iran.
• Spain, Slovenia, and Ireland urged the European Union to debate suspending its association agreement with Israel due to violations and crimes the regime has committed in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, and Lebanon.
• A new survey has revealed that only 26% of Americans view President Donald Trump as a "balanced" individual, raising alarm bells amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and the war against Iran.
• Russian authorities have reportedly detained at least 40 Israeli settlers at Moscow's Domodedovo Airport over their links to the Israeli regime's unprovoked aggression against Iran.
• The Netherlands will spend more than $1.1 billion to help businesses and households cope with rising fuel costs linked to the war.

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