Donald Trump has announced the extension of the ceasefire with Iran in order to give Tehran more time to negotiate, while maintaining the blockade of Iranian ports.
Published on 22/04/2026 at 00:00 • Reading time: 6 min
/2026/04/21/69e7efe412781990327043.jpg "War in the Middle East: Extended ceasefire, French commitment in Lebanon… What to remember from the game")
Just hours before the countdown ended, Donald Trump decided to extend the ceasefire with Iran until further notice, on Tuesday, April 21. Tehran, on the other hand, threatened to strike again at its Gulf neighbors, jeopardizing their oil production. Franceinfo provides an overview of the key information from the day.
Donald Trump extends the ceasefire
Two weeks after the ceasefire came into effect on April 8, Iran had warned that the ceasefire would expire according to its deadline from Tuesday night to Wednesday Tehran time, while the American president mentioned Wednesday night, Washington time. Citing divisions at the top of the Iranian power hierarchy, the Republican billionaire announced at the last minute on his Truth Social network that he was extending the cessation of hostilities at the request of Pakistani mediators, until “Iran presents a proposal to end the conflict”. Just on Monday, the White House tenant had deemed a ceasefire extension “highly unlikely.” In the meantime, the blockade of Iranian ports will continue, he emphasized.
Iran threatens Gulf countries
Tehran has threatened to resume strikes towards Gulf countries, endangering global oil supply. “Our southern neighbors must know that if their territory and facilities are used by enemies to attack the Iranian nation, they can say goodbye to Middle East oil production,” warned the Revolutionary Guards, Tehran’s ideological army. Prior to these threats, oil prices, already under pressure due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of global supply usually passes, had already started to rise, gaining about 3%.
Iran knows how to “resist intimidation,” warned its Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, denouncing the American blockade of the country’s ports as “an act of war and therefore a violation of the ceasefire.” Tehran is currently refusing to send a delegation to Pakistan for talks with the United States, after an unsuccessful first session on April 11.
In Lebanon, Israel and Hezbollah accuse each other of violating the ceasefire
In another front of the war that has engulfed the Middle East, new direct talks between Israel and Lebanon are set to take place on Thursday in Washington, announced the American diplomacy. A fragile 10-day ceasefire came into effect on Friday between Israel and the pro-Iranian Hezbollah, with both sides accusing each other of violations.
The Israeli army announced on Tuesday that it had struck a position in southern Lebanon in response to rocket fire towards its troops deployed in that area. The pro-Iranian movement, for its part, said it had carried out an attack in northern Israel in response to “flagrant” ceasefire violations. According to the Israeli army, sirens sounded in two northern localities after a drone launched from Lebanon was intercepted. According to official reports, 2,454 people have been killed in Lebanon in six weeks of war.
Lebanon demands the “complete withdrawal” of Israeli forces from its territory, as well as the return of Lebanese prisoners and displaced persons, as part of negotiations with Israel, according to Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. The country needs “500 million euros to deal with the humanitarian crisis over the next six months,” according to Nawaf Salam.
France is “ready to maintain its commitment” in Lebanon after the departure of UNIFIL
Emmanuel Macron assured that France was “ready to maintain its commitment on the ground” after the departure of UNIFIL, the UN mission in southern Lebanon, scheduled for the end of the year, “alongside its most mobilized partners, within a framework that we will have to define together.” Noting “with joy and satisfaction that the United States of America are focusing on the cradle of Lebanon,” he called on them to help France “negotiate a new solution” to renew UNIFIL or define “a new version” of it. During a press conference with Nawaf Salam, Emmanuel Macron also argued that Israel must “renounce its territorial aspirations” and that Hezbollah must be disarmed “by the Lebanese.”
The EU27 fail to agree on new sanctions against Israel
The European Union countries have failed to impose new sanctions on Israel, despite calls to do so by several countries, including Spain, acknowledged EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. During a meeting on Tuesday of the Foreign Ministers of the member states in Luxembourg, Spain and Ireland called for the complete suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. However, countries like Germany and Italy opposed it. “There was no support in the room for this measure,” which requires the unanimity of the 27 to be taken, Kaja Kallas said at the end of the meeting. “We must discuss crucial issues with Israel,” but “this must be done in a critical and constructive dialogue with Israel, which is what we advocate,” declared German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.
Emmanuel Macron, for his part, acknowledged a “legitimate question” about the possibility of suspending the Association Agreement if Israel “continues this policy that goes against its history,” particularly in Lebanon.
