The United States has denied reports that it has asked to extend the current ceasefire with Iran, while officials say negotiations between the two sides remain ongoing and constructive.
Get today's headlines by email 
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Wednesday that media reports suggesting Washington had formally sought an extension were incorrect. She said discussions with Iran were continuing but no request had been made to prolong the truce.
“I saw some reporting this morning that we had formally requested an extension of the ceasefire. That is not true at this moment,” Leavitt said during a briefing.
She added that US leaders had described the talks as productive and said negotiations were continuing.
Naval blockade and economic impact
The comments came as the US military said a naval blockade imposed on Iran had effectively halted the country’s seaborne trade.
The blockade began on Monday, targeting all Iranian ports. It followed Iran’s earlier move to close the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping more than a month ago.
The narrow waterway is one of the world’s most important oil transit routes, with roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies passing through it. Its closure has given Tehran considerable leverage in the conflict with the United States and Israel.
US Central Command said the blockade had rapidly disrupted Iranian commerce.
Admiral Brad Cooper said in a statement that around 90% of Iran’s economy depended on maritime trade.
“In less than 36 hours since the blockade was implemented, US forces have completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea,” he said.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the wider economic disruption caused by the conflict as temporary. Speaking at the same event as Leavitt, he said the volatility in global markets represented “short-term disruption” in pursuit of longer-term outcomes.
Diplomatic efforts continue
The blockade followed a round of negotiations between US and Iranian officials in Pakistan that ended without a breakthrough over the weekend.
President Donald Trump suggested further talks could soon take place and indicated he did not expect it would be necessary to extend the two-week ceasefire currently due to expire on 21 April.
“It could end either way, but I think a deal is preferable because then they can rebuild,” Trump said.
Mediators have indicated they are working to extend the ceasefire, although they say the blockade has complicated the negotiations.
The main disputes between the two sides include Iran’s nuclear programme, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and compensation for wartime damages.
Pakistan has played a central role in mediating the conflict. Its prime minister travelled to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, while the head of the Pakistani military visited Iran as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Strain with UK and wider regional tensions
Trump has also suggested relations with the United Kingdom have been affected by London’s refusal to take part in the conflict.
In an interview with Sky News, he said Britain and other NATO allies had not joined the war “when we needed them” and suggested a recent US-UK trade deal could be reconsidered.
The UK government has instead focused on coordinating international efforts to keep the Strait of Hormuz open once hostilities end.
Rising oil prices linked to the disruption have pushed up the cost of food and other goods. The International Monetary Fund has warned the war could reduce UK economic growth by half a percentage point this year.
Meanwhile, the conflict has also fuelled renewed fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Israeli and Lebanese officials held their first direct diplomatic talks in decades in Washington on Tuesday. Lebanon’s ambassador to the United States, Nada Hamadeh Moawad, described the meeting as constructive.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces were continuing operations against Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon and were expanding a security zone along the border.
Hezbollah has rejected the diplomatic efforts and said it would not accept any agreements reached in the talks.
According to officials, the broader conflict has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, more than 2,100 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen people in Gulf Arab states. Thirteen US service members have also been killed.
Despite the diplomatic contacts, Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon continued on Wednesday. Lebanese authorities said several paramedics were killed after rescue teams responding to wounded civilians were struck.
Join the discussion? 
Already a member? 
Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 16 April 2026
Recommended Comments
Create an account or sign in to comment