Donald Trump announced an extension of the ceasefire with Iran until a peace proposal is submitted. This decision comes amid heightened tensions and mixed reactions from Iranian officials.
Key points
Trump extended the Iran ceasefire until a peace proposal is submitted
Iranian officials criticized the ceasefire extension as a delay tactic
There is division among Iranian leaders on responding to the US
Mentioned in this story
Donald TrumpMohammad Bagher Ghalibaf
Good morning.
Donald Trump unilaterally announced an extension of the two-week ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday amid frantic efforts to bring the two sides back to the negotiating table.
Hours after saying he “expected to be bombing”, Trump said he would extend the truce until Tehran submitted a proposal for peace. The announcement came on a day where JD Vance’s expected trip to Islamabad was put on hold and after Trump stepped up his aggressive messaging, saying the US military was “raring to go”.
Trump’s ceasefire rhetoric received short shrift from Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of the Iranian parliament and Tehran’s lead negotiator. His personal adviser dismissed it as “a ploy to buy time for a surprise strike”, adding that “the time for Iran to take the initiative has come”.
How are Trump’s negotiating tactics being received? The president’s impatience and rough-house diplomatic style, including his frequent online posting, has been a key stumbling block to restarting peace talks, writes the Guardian’s diplomatic editor, Patrick Wintour.
Is Tehran united on how to deal with Washington? Analysts say it is not, with fierce disagreement among Iranian leaders over how to respond to US pressure and whether to risk a new wave of bombing.
Virginia voters approve new congressional maps in blow to Trump
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Virginia held a voting-map referendum on Tuesday. Photograph: Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP
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Q&A
What did Trump announce regarding the Iran ceasefire?
Trump announced an extension of the ceasefire with Iran until Tehran submits a peace proposal.
How are Iranian officials responding to Trump's ceasefire extension?
Iranian officials, including Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf's adviser, dismissed the extension as a tactic to delay and called for Iran to take the initiative.
What are the implications of Trump's aggressive messaging on peace talks?
Trump's aggressive rhetoric is seen as a significant obstacle to restarting peace negotiations, causing frustration among diplomats.
Is there unity among Iranian leaders on how to respond to the US?
No, there is significant disagreement among Iranian leaders regarding how to handle US pressure and the potential for military action.
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The tit-for-tat redistricting battle began last year after Trump pressed Texas’s Republican-controlled legislature to redraw that state’s congressional maps in an effort to oust up to five Democratic House lawmakers. California was the first to respond, with voters backing redistricting in favor of Democrats, while Virginia’s governor backed holding a vote to do so, resulting in Tuesday’s referendum.
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Afghans prepare to board a Qatari evacuation flight in Kabul. Photograph: AP
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What is the situation in the DRC? Reeling from decades of conflict and instability, the country is experiencing an enormous displacement crisis.
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