Iran rejects Pakistan talks, Trump extends ceasefire:Is war returning; what is the real game?

Before the ceasefire between United States and Iran was due to expire on 21 April, a fresh round of talks was scheduled in Pakistan. Three luxury hotels in Islamabad had been reserved for the delegations, and US Vice President JD Vance was preparing to depart but Iran refused to show up. Shortly after, at 1:45 am, Trump announced he would hold off on military action until Iran puts forward a concrete proposal for negotiations. Why did Iran refuse to travel to Pakistan for talks? How did Trump, who had been threatening strikes just hours earlier, suddenly soften his stance? And what happens next with the Strait of Hormuz crisis? Here’s today’s explainer. What did Trump say about extending the ceasefire? At 1:45 am on 21 April, the White House posted Trump’s statement on X, saying that “serious divisions have emerged within the Iranian government”. He added that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir had appealed to Iran to halt attacks. Trump said the ceasefire had been extended until Iranian leaders and their representatives come forward with a unified proposal. He further stated, “I have ordered a halt to military action for now, but the armed forces have been told to remain ready. The blockade on Iran will continue. The ceasefire will remain in place until Iran presents a credible proposal and negotiations are completed.” According to CNN, the decision followed a meeting on Tuesday with the US national security team, attended by Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Just hours before this decision, however, Trump had opposed extending the ceasefire and warned that time was running out before potential strikes on Iran’s civilian infrastructure. So what explains Trump’s sudden ceasefire announcement? There are three main reasons behind Donald Trump’s sudden decision to extend the ceasefire. 1. Attempt to hide diplomatic failure 2. No clear plan ahead 3. No unified proposal from Iran
Why was Iran not ready for talks again in Pakistan? Iran was initially open to a second round of talks in Pakistan. According to Al Jazeera, Iranian officials had even indicated that some representatives could travel to Islamabad. But the situation shifted after developments around 13 April, particularly pressure building around the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman. After that, Iran pulled back from the talks for three major reasons. 1. Lifting US pressure became Iran’s top priority 2. Domestic political and military pressure inside Iran 3. Lack of trust in Trump and fear of escalation Will there be another war, or can the issue still be resolved through talks? What happens if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked?