At just a few hours before the countdown ends, Donald Trump has decided to extend until further notice the truce with Iran, which, on its side, had threatened to attack its Gulf neighbors again, disrupting their oil production.
Two weeks after the ceasefire began on April 8, Iran had warned that the truce would end by midnight Tuesday to Wednesday Tehran time, with the American president referring to Wednesday evening Washington time.
Citing divisions within the top Iranian leadership, the Republican billionaire announced at the last minute on his Truth Social network that he was extending the halt in fighting at the request of Pakistani mediators until “Iran presents a proposal to end the conflict.”
As recent as Monday, the White House tenant had deemed it “highly unlikely” for the ceasefire to be extended.
Meanwhile, the blockade of Iranian ports will continue, he emphasized on Tuesday.
– “Farewell” to oil –
Almost two months after the start of hostilities triggered by Israel and the United States, Tehran threatened to resume strikes towards the Gulf countries, jeopardizing global oil supply.
“Our southern neighbors should know that if their territory and facilities are used by enemies to attack the Iranian nation, they can say goodbye to oil production in the Middle East,” warned the Revolutionary Guards, Tehran’s ideological army.
Before these threats, oil prices, already strained by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz – through which a fifth of global oil supply normally passes – had already risen by about 3%.
Iran knows how to “resist intimidation,” cautioned its Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, denouncing the American blockade of the country’s ports as “an act of war and a violation of the ceasefire.”
Tehran is currently refusing to send a delegation to Pakistan for talks with the United States following an unsuccessful initial session on April 11.
Vice President JD Vance, who is set to lead the American delegation again, was still in Washington on Tuesday afternoon due to “additional meetings,” according to the White House.
– Iranian women threatened? –
Before announcing the ceasefire extension, Donald Trump asked Tehran to “free” several women who were allegedly facing execution. This would be a “very good start to negotiations,” he believed.
AFP was unable to confirm these execution threats or the identity of the women whose photographs the American president had used to support his request. Iran denied any threats of execution against them.
In Tehran, where major airports reopened Monday after several weeks, life has returned to normal.
Mobina Rasoulian, a 19-year-old student, is enjoying the respite brought by the truce. “I went out without stress…I went to cafes, restaurants, here and there,” the young woman told AFP on a capital street.
But for Saghar, 39, interviewed from Paris, “there is no light at the end of the tunnel.” “The economic situation is terrible,” and the authorities arrest people “for no reason. Executions are on the rise.”
On the other front of the war that has ignited the Middle East, new direct discussions between Israel and Lebanon are set to take place on Thursday in Washington, as announced by American diplomacy. Like the first talks on April 14, they will be at the ambassador level.
A fragile 10-day ceasefire took effect on Friday between Israel and the pro-Iranian Hezbollah, with both sides accusing each other of violations.
The Israeli army announced Tuesday that it had struck a position in southern Lebanon in response to rocket fire towards its soldiers deployed in the region.
The pro-Iranian movement claimed to have carried out an attack in northern Israel in response to “flagrant” ceasefire violations.
According to the Israeli army, sirens sounded in two northern towns after a drone launched from Lebanon was intercepted.
According to official figures, 2,454 people have been killed in Lebanon during six weeks of war.
