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US-Iran ceasefire extended: Why Trump paused and what happens next | DW News
April 22, 2026
Posted 17 hours ago by
Donald Trump has extended the ceasefire with Iran indefinitely but attacks in the Strait of Hormuz are raising fears the conflict is far from over. A second round of US-Iran talks has been put on hold after Tehran refused to attend negotiations while a US naval blockade remains in place. At the same time, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has escalated activity at sea, targeting commercial vessels in one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes.
So why did Trump extend the ceasefire after weeks of escalating rhetoric? And what does this fragile pause mean for the risk of a wider war? We speak to analyst Nate Swanson of the Atlantic Council, a former US Iran policy official, about the strategic calculations behind Washington’s decision and whether the US and Iran are fundamentally misreading each other. Voices from Tehran also reflect growing uncertainty among Iranians, as mixed signals from Washington deepen confusion about whether peace is possible or if conflict is simply on hold. Chaptering: 00:00 Trump extends Iran ceasefire indefinitely 00:10 US-Iran talks collapse as Pakistan meeting stalls 00:25 Hormuz tensions rise: ships seized, attacks reported 00:50 Voices from Tehran: confusion and frustration 01:51 Why Trump stepped back from escalation 03:42 Inside US-Iran back-channel diplomacy 05:26 Are both sides misreading each other? 08:24 How US Iran policy shifted: Trump to Biden to Trump 11:40 What happens next? Risks of renewed conflict #dwcurrentaffairs #trump #iranwar #ceasefire For more news go to: http://www.dw.com/en/ Follow DW on social media: ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwnews ►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dwnews ►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deutschewellenews/ ►Twitter: https://twitter.com/dwnews Für Videos in deutscher Sprache besuchen Sie: https://www.youtube.com/dwdeutsch Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/user/deutschewelleenglish?sub_confirmation=1
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