White House Denies Truce Extension, Signals Ongoing Iran Negotiations

The White House has pushed back against claims that the United States is seeking to prolong its ceasefire arrangement with Iran, signalling instead that negotiations remain active but unresolved.

Addressing reporters, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the reports as inaccurate, asserting that no formal move has been made to extend the truce. At the same time, she underscored that diplomatic engagement continues, with Washington expressing cautious optimism about a possible breakthrough.

Leavitt indicated that the framework of negotiations has already been clearly communicated to Tehran, reflecting the firm stance of President Donald Trump. According to the administration, meeting these outlined conditions would be in Iran's strategic interest.

Attention is now shifting to Pakistan, which is expected to host the next round of talks and remains the sole intermediary between the two sides. The reliance on Islamabad highlights a controlled diplomatic channel, despite interest from other nations to facilitate dialogue.

The earlier round of negotiations, held over April 11-12, stretched across 21 hours and was led by Vice President JD Vance. However, deep divisions persisted, particularly over Iran's nuclear ambitions-an issue Tehran continues to defend as purely civilian in nature.

In parallel, Washington has reinforced its hardline economic posture. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that the US will not renew temporary waivers that had allowed limited purchases of Russian and Iranian oil. The decision effectively tightens sanctions pressure, even as diplomatic efforts remain underway.

The earlier exemption, which briefly enabled countries such as India to continue importing Russian oil, has now lapsed-marking a shift toward stricter enforcement amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.