Administration

Leavitt denies reporting US is seeking extended ceasefire with Iran

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by Julia Manchester - 04/15/26 2:59 PM ET

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by Julia Manchester - 04/15/26 2:59 PM ET

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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt denied reports on Wednesday that the U.S. is seeking an extended ceasefire with Iran.

“That is not true at this moment,” Leavitt told reporters, referring to “bad reporting” that the U.S. had formally requested an extension of the ceasefire.

“We remain very much engaged in these negotiations, in these talks,” she continued. “You heard from the vice president directly and the president this week that these conversations are productive and ongoing, and that’s where we are right now.”

The U.S. and Iran reached a two week ceasefire a week ago. In the days since, Vice President JD Vance led a U.S. delegation, including chief Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, to Islamabad to meet with Iranians over the weekend.

The two sides left the Pakistani capital on Sunday with no deal after a marathon 20-hour meeting. However, Leavitt confirmed that talks are being set up again in Islamabad but did not provide timing for those.

Pakistan’s military chief Asim Munir arrived in Tehran as part of the effort to bring an end to the U.S.-Iran war. Pakistan has emerged as the leading mediator between Washington and Tehran.

Trump told the New York Post on Tuesday that talks with Iran “could be happening over the next two days” in Islamabad.

The developments come as the U.S. military continues its blockade on all Iranian ports. The blockade went into effect on Monday.

The U.S. military, meanwhile, announced on Tuesday that it turned around six merchant vessels and “completely” halted trade from Iran’s ports

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