By PHILLIP NIETO, US POLITICAL REPORTER

Published: 11:47 EDT, 10 April 2026 | Updated: 14:58 EDT, 10 April 2026

Donald Trump has warned Iran that it should strike a deal within a day or he’ll end the ceasefire and launch a new wave of strikes. 

‘We’re going to find out in about 24 hours. We’re going to know soon,’ Trump told the New York Post after dispatching Vice President JD Vance to Pakistan to lead peace talks.

It’s his latest salvo in a string of ultimatums against the Islamic Republic that has defined the President’s handling of the war.  

‘We have a reset going. We’re loading up the ships with the best ammunition, the best weapons ever made – even better than what we did previously, and we blew them apart,’ he said.

‘And if we don’t have a deal, we will be using them, and we will be using them very effectively.’

The upcoming peace talks are expected to center on Trump’s demands that Iran surrender its stockpile of enriched uranium and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz to global shipping.

In a Truth Social post later on Friday, Trump said the Iranians ‘don’t seem to realize they have no cards, other than a short term extortion of the World by using International Waterways. The only reason they are alive today is to negotiate!’

Tehran, meanwhile, is pushing for immediate relief from US sanctions, continued control over the strait, and compensation for wartime damages.

‘We’re going to find out in about 24 hours. We’re going to know soon,’ Trump told the New York Post

The aftermath of an Israeli strike in Lebanon. Iran claims a ceasefire in Lebanon is key to peace talks with the regime and US

JD Vance is heading to Pakistan to meet with the Iranian delegation 

Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad ​Baqer Qalibaf warned that peace talks were not going well, accusing the US of already violating the terms of the ceasefire.

Qalibaf said two key measures previously agreed upon have yet to be carried out, including a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, and the release of frozen assets.

Trump on Thursday pressured Israel to slow down attacks on Lebanon as the strikes threatened to thwart peace talks with Iran.

The President admitted that he’d told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ‘to be sort of a little more low-key’ as Vance and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff lead negotiations in Islamabad.

US and Israeli officials described Trump’s phone call with Netanyahu on Thursday as ‘tense’, according to CNN.

An Israeli source said that Netanyahu believed if he did not immediately call for direct talks with Lebanon then Trump would simply declare a ceasefire on his behalf. 

Shortly after the call, Netanyahu announced he would engage with Lebanese authorities in peace talks.  

US officials are concerned that Israel’s campaign against Lebanon could crumble the fragile three-day-old ceasefire before the peace talks even begin.

US and Israeli officials described Trump’s phone call with Netanyahu on Thursday as ‘tense’

The President’s rising unfavourability appears to have been driven in part by surging gas prices after the strait’s closure, with the national average climbing to $4.10 per gallon

According to the latest Daily Mail/JL Partners poll, American voters were ‘relieved’ that the President decided to take the off-ramp instead of escalating the war.

The survey found that 33 percent of voters view the deal as a good outcome for the United States, compared to 18 percent who see it as a bad one.

Another 28 percent of respondents said they feel neutral about the agreement, while 20 percent remain unsure, underscoring the public’s mixed but measured reaction.

The President’s falling approval appears to have been driven in part by surging gas prices after the strait’s closure, with the national average climbing to $4.20 per gallon.

The US and Iran both claimed victory after reaching a fragile ceasefire, even as more drones and missiles hit Iran and Gulf Arab countries.

The US president said he was suspending his threats if Iran agreed to reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz waterway.

Tehran has already proposed a 10-point plan that provided ‘a workable basis on which to negotiate’, but the agreement is already hitting roadblocks.

Iran also appears to have closed the Strait of Hormuz, after US leaders claimed it had been reopened as part of the ceasefire.

Key issues for both nations remain unresolved, including the scope of the truce, Iran’s rights to nuclear enrichment and ballistic missiles, as well as access to the Strait of Hormuz.

Dr Katayoun Shahandeh, of SOAS, University of London, told Metro the ceasefire is more fragile than it is secure.

‘It may hold in the very short term because all sides have reasons to pause, but it is not yet a stable settlement,’ she said.

Why did Israel attack Lebanon, and is it a breach of the ceasefire?

The elephant in the room is the continued Israeli strikes into Lebanon.

Israel has intensified attacks in Lebanon, killing at least 182 people in the highest single-day death toll in the Israel-Hezbollah war, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.

‘There seem to be conflicting messages over whether Lebanon is covered, which is exactly the kind of ambiguity that can unravel a deal fast. There is also a growing divergence between U.S. and Israeli objectives,’ Dr Shahandeh said.

Washington has declared the ceasefire as a ‘victory’, Dr Shahandeh said, but Israel’s current posture points towards a continued military campaign, rather than a diplomatic resolution.

‘There is a real fear that this is not peace so much as a pause, as it is a chance for Washington and its allies to regroup and, if talks fail, strike harder. That may not be the stated intention, but it is one plausible reading of a ceasefire whose terms remain contested and whose basic points of agreement still seem very far apart,’ she said.

‘Already, it does not look as though all sides are fully adhering to it.’

What happens if the ceasefire conditions are broken?

If the ceasefire is broken, Trump would have a few options – but would likely begin with escalation in strikes and potentially putting US troops on the ground in Iran.

‘Trump has said U.S. military ships and aircraft will remain around Iran and that if Tehran does not comply, the “shootin’ starts” again,’ Dr Shahandeh explained.

‘The most likely U.S. response would be renewed strikes, more coercive pressure over Hormuz, and an attempt to force Iran into harsher terms from a position of overwhelming military superiority. But that would deepen the bind he is already in: walking away risks looking weak, while escalating further risks a more unpopular and expensive war.’

Dr Bamo Nouri, senior lecturer in International Relations at the University of West London, told Metro: ‘If it breaks, Trump has already signalled a return to coercive escalation – maintaining US forces in the region, increasing military pressure, and potentially authorising further strikes to restore deterrence.

Iran’s options if the ceasefire is broken are different. Despite sustaining heavy damage, the country has retained power over the Strait of Hormuz and could easily resume missile and drone attacks and pressure on global shipping.

As for Israel, the option is to continue its air strikes in both Iran and Lebanon if it believes the ceasefire to be broken.

‘Israel, for its part, is likely to be the least patient actor, having already signalled readiness to resume high-intensity operations if it judges the ceasefire to be constraining its strategic objectives,’ Dr Nouri said.

Despite agreeing to suspend its bombing campaign in Iran, the US and Israel differ on their positions as to whether the ceasefire stretches to Lebanon, where Israel argues it is striking Iranian-backed Hezbollah groups.

‘Israel agreed to suspend its bombing campaign on Iran, but that U.S. and Israeli positions differ sharply from Iran’s (and Pakistan who brokered the deal) over whether Lebanon is part of the ceasefire framework.

‘That means Israel could become the most immediate trigger for collapse if it continues treating other theatres as separate while Iran treats them as linked,’ Dr Shahandeh said.

What happens next?

It’s hard to say. Iran, Israel and the United States are not operating from a shared understanding of what’s been agreed in the ceasefire agreement.

Dr Nouri explained: ‘The US frames it around limiting Iran’s nuclear activity and securing maritime stability in the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran insists on its enrichment rights and links the deal to broader regional conditions, including Israeli operations in Lebanon.’

In order for the ceasefire to hold, the three countries must quickly clarify terms to stop any misunderstandings.

‘Without a quickly accepted framework, this ceasefire becomes a short-lived bargaining interval rather than a stable resolution, with all sides already preparing for renewed escalation,’ Dr Nouri said.

Dr Shahandeh believes three things need to happen for the ceasefire to hold.

‘The parties need clear written terms, not just public declarations: what is covered geographically, what counts as a violation, and who verifies compliance,’ she said.

‘Second, there has to be a practical de-escalation mechanism around Hormuz, because Reuters reports there is still little sign that the Strait is operating normally, and Iran is still asserting control there.

‘Third, the ceasefire must become a political process, not just a pause in bombing. The ceasefire can hold, but only as a bridge to a more detailed agreement. If it remains vague, it is unlikely to last.’

Iran’s Lavan oil refinery hit after US ceasefire announcement

Donald Trump announced Tuesday night that Iran has agreed to a two-week ceasefire and will re-open the Strait of Hormuz, after Tehran submitted a 10-point peace plan to end the war. 

Trump posted on Truth Social, ‘I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks,’ after earlier sparking doomsday fears when he threatened to wipe out its ‘entire civilization’ if they did not reopen the strait.

Iran accepted the Pakistan-brokered deal after a last-minute Chinese intervention urging Tehran to show flexibility over the war’s economic fallout, three Iranian officials told the New York Times. 

The officials said that the ceasefire was approved by the new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, despite intelligence reports which say he is in a coma.

Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed the truce and that ‘safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible’ during the two-week period.

Israel also agreed to halt attacks on Iran for two weeks, a senior White House official told Axios, with the ceasefire taking effect once the Strait of Hormuz is re-opened. 

US crude oil prices plunged after Trump’s ceasefire announcement, with West Texas Intermediate contracts falling by more than 15 percent to $95 per barrel after hitting $116 earlier Tuesday. 

Trump said that after talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif he had been assured that Iran will agree ‘to the complete, immediate, and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz.’

President Donald Trump has extended the deadline for Iran and the US to negotiate an end to the war after threatening to annihilate the country

Smoke rises from the site of a US-Israeli strike on the Iranian capital Tehran on April 7, 2026

A US-AF F-35 Lightning II stealth multirole fighter jet takes off from RAF Lakenheath in England on April 7

‘This will be a double sided ceasefire,’ Trump added. ‘The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive agreement concerning long-term peace with Iran.’

He noted that a 10-point proposal from Iran ‘is a workable basis on which to negotiate,’ despite saying on Monday that the deal was not ‘good enough.’

Vice President JD Vance, along with Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff have been leading US negotiations to end the war which was launched on February 28 – dubbed Operation Epic Fury.

The deal came after Pakistani PM Sharif posted on X that major breakthroughs had been made between US and Iranian negotiators. 

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said: ‘There are discussions about face-to-face meetings between the United States and Iran, but nothing is final until it is announced by the President or the White House.’ 

Trump had warned Tuesday morning that ‘a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again’ if no deal was reached by his 8pm ET deadline. 

Shortly after the ceasefire deal was announced, early alerts for incoming missile fire went out in Tel Aviv, Fox News reported.

It is the fourth extension Trump has offered the Islamic Republic since he first threatened to ‘obliterate’ Iran’s power plants on March 21. 

Trump looks at Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif speaking following the official signing of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, during a world leaders’ summit on ending the Gaza war, in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, October 13, 2025

Video on Tuesday showed women and children waving flags as chanting blared on a loudspeaker at a power plant after Trump threatened to bomb infrustructure

The US hit dozens of military targets on Kharg Island, a crucial Iranian oil export hub Monday night

Even before the deadline expired, airstrikes had already hit two bridges and a train station. American forces also struck military infrastructure on Kharg Island for the second time, a key hub for Iranian oil production 

An explosion erupts following strikes near Azadi Tower close to Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran on March 7 

Trump has been fixated on forcing Iran to end its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway off the country’s coast through which a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes. 

Iran has bombed multiple vessels that have made the dangerous decision to transit the strait. As a result, oil prices have skyrocketed and global markets have churned.

The average price for a gallon of regular gas has shot up from $2.98 to $4.14, a 39 percent increase.

The US negotiators have demanded that Iran give up its nuclear enrichment capabilities, cut back its drone and ballistic missile programs, cease its support for proxies across the region and immediately re-open the Strait of Hormuz. 

The President has stressed repeatedly that the objectives of the war are to ensure Iran cannot create a nuclear weapon, its proxies cannot meddle with Middle Eastern countries, and Iran’s Navy, drone and ballistic missile capabilities are destroyed.

Iran proposed a 10-point counter-proposal to US negotiators via Pakistani officials on Monday after the US gave Islamabad a 15-point proposal to begin a ceasefire. 

The President refused to comment on the 10-point plan earlier on Tuesday, telling Fox News: ‘I can’t comment, because right now we’re in heated negotiations.’ 

Trump said on Monday at a White House press conference that the plan was a ‘significant step,’ but he added that it is ‘not good enough.’ 

Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, reportedly signed off on the ceasefire deal, according to the New York Times

US Navy fighter jets take off from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) during Operation Epic Fury

Sharif had called on both Trump and the Iranian regime to accept the two-week ceasefire before the President finally relented. 

‘To allow diplomacy to run its course, I earnestly request President Trump to extend the deadline for two weeks. Pakistan, in all sincerity, requests the Iranian brothers to open Strait of Hormuz for a corresponding period of two weeks as a goodwill gesture,’ Sharif said on Tuesday afternoon. 

‘We also urge all warring parties to observe a ceasefire everywhere for two weeks to allow diplomacy to achieve conclusive termination of war, in the interest of long-term peace and stability in the region.’

Even before the deadline expired, airstrikes had already hit two bridges and a train station. American forces also struck military infrastructure on Kharg Island for the second time, a key hub for Iranian oil production.

Israel’s military warned of an increased risk of inbound attacks as Trump’s deadline approached.

Before the announcement, blasts were heard in the Qatari capital Doha, while the UAE said its air defenses were responding to missile threats. 

Shaheen Shah Afridi (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

Pakistan Cricket Board has doubled down on ensuring the smooth conduct of the Pakistan Super League 2026, but a fresh controversy has emerged involving two senior Lahore Qalandars players. Amid ongoing concerns over a possible two-day lockdown due to a fuel shortage in the country, skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi and all-rounder Sikandar Raza have reportedly breached strict security protocols laid out for the tournament. The duo allegedly allowed four individuals to stay inside Raza’s hotel room for more than two hours, in violation of isolation and safety guidelines. The PSL is currently being conducted under heightened security arrangements, with more than 6,000 police personnel deployed alongside AI-based surveillance systems and drone monitoring. Due to security concerns and regional tensions, the tournament has been limited to two venues — Lahore and Karachi — and is being held behind closed doors without spectators. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi had earlier stressed the importance of hosting the league despite the situation. “We don’t know how long the current situation will persist, but hosting the PSL is essential. It is an international brand, and foreign players are involved. Everyone is eager for the PSL to go ahead,” he said. Following the reported breach, Lahore’s Deputy Inspector General of Police Faisal Kamran has formally notified the PCB and PSL authorities through an official letter. The matter is now expected to be investigated, with disciplinary action likely. At the very least, a fine could be imposed, while a match ban remains a possibility. Concerns have also been raised that failure to act could set a poor precedent for other players. The letter further claims that the team’s liaison officer had initially sought permission from the PCB to allow the four visitors into the hotel room, but the request was denied. A similar request from franchise owner Sameen Rana was also rejected. Despite this, Raza allegedly went ahead and allowed the visitors, even after security personnel advised against it. Confirming awareness of the situation, Qalandars’ head of media Umar Farooq said, “We are aware of an incident involving two Lahore Qalandars players, and are in communication with the PSL over the matter.” With the tournament already being conducted under strict security measures, the incident has raised fresh questions around discipline and adherence to protocols within team environments.

Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)

Participation of Bangladesh cricketers in the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 is now uncertain, with the final decision hinging on government approval amid ongoing regional tensions. A total of six Bangladesh players — Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossain Emon, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana, Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Rishad Hossain — were initially granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) by the Bangladesh Cricket Board after being picked in the league’s first-ever auction. However, the evolving situation between Pakistan and Afghanistan has prompted the board to reconsider their participation, making government clearance mandatory. BCB cricket operations chairman Nazmul Abedin confirmed that the board will not take a final call without consulting the authorities. “Of course, we will seek permission from the government before sending our cricketers for the PSL. Under normal circumstances, these things are not required. We provide clearance; they go, play, and return. But since the situation is not normal and there is a risk element concerning the players, obviously we will discuss it with the government,” Abedin was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz on Thursday. “We will seek to know from the government whether it will be safe to travel or not, and based on that government decision, we will have to take the ultimate call on whether the players will go or not. Because it is not actually possible for us to understand the situation there. It is possible for the government to know. The government will know, and if the government tells us that it is safe to go and the players can travel, then the players will go. But, in principle, we have decided that we will give the NOC, and they will go to play. But it depends on the situation at that time,” he added. As things stand, if the players are cleared to participate in the PSL, they are likely to miss Bangladesh’s preparatory camps ahead of the upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand national cricket team, who are scheduled to tour Bangladesh next month for three ODIs and three T20Is. The BCB has already issued partial NOCs to manage player availability across both commitments. Mustafizur Rahman, who has been signed by Lahore Qalandars, has been granted clearance from March 26 to April 12 and again from April 24 to May 3. He will take part in the ODI series against New Zealand but will miss the T20I leg. Meanwhile, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana and Rishad Hossain have received NOCs valid until April 12, allowing them to feature in both formats of the home series. Parvez Hossain Emon, on the other hand, has been cleared until April 21 and is expected to be available for the T20I matches. With safety concerns now at the forefront, the final decision on Bangladesh players’ PSL participation will ultimately rest with the government, leaving their involvement in the tournament hanging in the balance.

NEW DELHI: Veteran Pakistan batter Ahmed Shehzad has openly criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after the team’s recent poor performances. He also drew a stark comparison between player quality in the IPL and PSL.“If you look at the IPL, they’ve got many superstars in their league who make the league competitive. Teams there invest for years, building strength,” Shehzad said on his YouTube channel.“On the other hand, PSL has hired retired players and commentators and made them superstars over the last 3–4 years; even retired players become your brand faces. They get money, but what have they actually built? I think this sums up what PSL has become.”

In the T20 World Cup, Pakistan failed to reach the semifinals and then suffered a disappointing ODI series defeat against Bangladesh, prompting a strong reaction from the cricketer. He described the current phase as one of the weakest he has seen and blamed both players and management for the decline.

Strong criticism of players and PCB

Shehzad questioned the quality and impact of the current group of players, especially those who have been consistently backed by the board. He said, “The calibre of your players is not at that level, which was built up as a brand by the Pakistan Cricket Board for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 5 and 7 years ago. These 6-8 boys… they are also the face of the PSL. They are also the face of our Pakistan team. Will they change Pakistan’s destiny?”He further accused the PCB of heavily investing in a small group of players without getting results. “You provided all the sponsorships to those boys, endorsed them, and invested money in them. You gave them captaincies in the PSL, right? You made them the thumb of the Pakistan team. You handed over the entire Pakistan cricket team to those 6 boys and their agents. And what have they done now? The fire they have lit in the jungle, the fun and parties they have had, the pockets they have filled, the enjoyment they have had… they haven’t given Pakistan any wins by doing so,” he added.

‘PCB looks weak, players not accountable’

Shehzad also slammed the players for not taking responsibility and said the board appears powerless in front of them. “Such is the audacity (of the players) that even today, they are not ready to admit that we are responsible. Not a single one of those players. Even today, they play the blame game. Even today, their ego is such that it isn’t breaking. So weak is the Pakistan Cricket Board now,” he said.He concluded with a harsh take on PCB’s functioning, adding, “Whenever you talk about any player, they start spinning stories. I have never seen the Pakistan Cricket Board this weak in my life, as weak as this PCB is. They have power, right? But in their decision-making, they appear to be kneeling before their players. This PCB can’t do anything. The work they were supposed to do — bringing in new faces — they didn’t. What they do is, after every event, they try to pull a new trick, but the public has now caught their pattern.”