Trump extends Iran ceasefire as talks to end war stall

Amna Nawaz:

President Trump said late today he would extend the cease-fire cease-fire with Iran as negotiations over a next round of talks seems to be at an impasse. Mr. Trump said Pakistani mediators asked him to extend the truce. Vice President Vance was supposed to lead a delegation back to Islamabad to meet the Iranians and discuss ending the war that the U.S. and Israel launched nearly two months ago.

Our White House correspondent, Liz Landers, begins our coverage.

Liz Landers:

In Pakistan's capital, the stage was set for a second round of peace talks, clear skies, but a cloud of uncertainty loomed. Today, Vice President J.D. Vance unexpectedly put his trip on hold and remained in Washington through the afternoon.

Pakistani officials said they had expected top negotiators from Iran too, though they never confirmed.

Man (through interpreter):

So far, no delegation from Iran has gone to Islamabad.

Liz Landers:

On Iranian state TV today, news anchors reiterated messaging that Iran won't show up to the table.

It's been just over a week since the previous round of talks in Islamabad ended without a deal. These latest talks appear to have unraveled ahead of a fast-approaching deadline for the cease-fire to expire. But, this afternoon, President Trump announced the U.S. is giving Iran more time to come up with a -- quote -- "unified proposal," and until then will -- quote -- "extend the cease-fire until such time as their proposal is submitted."

The last-minute extension came at Pakistan's request.

On Monday, the man leading Tehran's delegation, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, accused Trump of turning the negotiating table into a -- quote -- "table of surrender" and that Iran has -- quote -- "new cards on the battlefield" it's prepared to reveal.

But on the ground in Iran's capital, people remain divided on whether Iran should negotiate an end to the war.

Mirzaei, Tehran, Iran, Resident (through interpreter):

The talks will bear fruit. There may be some back-and-forth for a few days, but they will ultimately yield results.

Liz Landers:

While others are more skeptical.

Zeinab Eghbali, Tehran, Iran, Resident (through interpreter):

Why should we negotiate when the other side is lying? Why? When Trump says that whatever he says must be done, why should we accept it?

Liz Landers:

And on the Indian Ocean today, the U.S. military intercepted and boarded what the Pentagon says is another sanctioned oil tanker. Now nearly 10 days into the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports, it's the 28th such ship to be stabbed by the blockade and the first outside the Middle East.

In turn, Iran's foreign minister this afternoon called the U.S. blockade -- quote -- "an act of war and a violation of the cease-fire." That came after President Trump said Iran has -- quote --"violated the cease-fire numerous times."

Meantime, in Israel, the country came to a standstill for two minutes marking its Memorial Day. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lauded Israel's military campaign against Iran and its proxy groups.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister (through interpreter):

Together with our great friend the United States, we crushed in advance the machine of destruction of the Iranian regime. We pushed away from us an immediate existential threat.

Liz Landers:

But he also denounced an incident in Southern Lebanon where an Israeli soldier photographed another smashing a statue of Jesus with a sledgehammer. The image went viral over the weekend, and, today, the IDF said both soldiers had been removed from combat duty and are being held in detention for 30 days.

All that as the IDF today claimed that Hezbollah had violated their cease-fire with Israel after firing upon soldiers in Southern Lebanon and launching a drone toward Israel. Back in Islamabad, mediators awaited us and Iranian delegations that may never arrive, one more roadblock on the path to peace.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Liz Landers.

Amna Nawaz:

And Liz joins us now with the latest.

So, Liz, the mediators in this situation, the Pakistanis, and the Iranians are reacting to the president's declaration of a cease-fire. What are they saying this evening?

Liz Landers:

Within just the last few minutes, we heard from the prime minister of Pakistan. He posted on X saying thank you to President Trump. And he also said that he sincerely hopes that both sides will continue to observe this cease-fire.

He added too that Pakistan will continue earnest efforts towards these negotiations, so leaving that open for the future, Iran, though, far less optimistic. An adviser to Iran's parliamentary speaker says that Trump's cease-fire extension doesn't mean anything, that the losing side cannot dictate terms, and that the cease-fire extension is certainly a ploy to buy time for a surprise strike, Amna.

Amna Nawaz:

So, Liz, what does your reporting tell you that the sticking point to these talks is right now?

Liz Landers:

Well, we spoke with a source close to the administration just a few moments ago, who said that the real sticking point is this blockade right now in the Strait of Hormuz, and, in particular, the United States attacking and firing on that Iranian ship just a few days ago.

That ship was waiting in the Gulf of Oman to go into the strait. The U.S. military boarded that ship. Allegedly, that boat had dual-use goods on board, so potentially chemicals to make Iranian missile production, which is why the U.S. Navy intervened there.

Iran wants the issue of this blockade to be fixed before they meet with the Americans again. But the source was telling us that the Trump administration has no desire to change anything about the blockade right now. President Trump made that pretty clear in his TRUTH Social post that we saw earlier today.

A reality check here though, Amna. President Trump said just last Friday that Iran had agreed to virtually all of his demands to end their nuclear program. He thought that they were going to get a pretty quick deal was how he described it going into these weekend negotiations. Iran immediately said that they didn't.

One diplomat that I spoke to this afternoon said that basically right now there is no trust between the Iranians and the Americans, so that also is a sticking point here.

Amna Nawaz:

Our White House correspondent, Liz Landers, beginning our coverage tonight.

Liz, thank you.

Liz Landers:

Of course.