Opinion

The Iran ceasefire was just extended. The real test for Washington starts now

Trump's own advisers reportedly warned that extending without a deadline removes pressure that brought Iran to the table

By Lt. Col. Robert Maginnis, (ret.) Fox News

Published April 23, 2026 6:00am EDT

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Iran attacks ships in Strait of Hormuz after Trump extends ceasefire

Foreign correspondent Jeff Paul and former CENTCOM Commander Gen. Joseph Votel analyze the IRGC attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

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On Tuesday, President Trump posted on Truth Social that he would extend the ceasefire with Iran — with no set deadline — until Tehran’s leaders can "come up with a unified proposal." That announcement landed hours after Vice President Vance’s trip to Islamabad for a second round of peace talks was canceled without explanation, after Iranian officials told U.S. counterparts through Pakistani intermediaries that they would not appear at the table. Trump had said that very morning he did not want to extend. By Tuesday evening, he did.

The extension may have been unavoidable. What happened in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday makes clear exactly what Washington bought.

A Necessary Word About Our Military

Before addressing what comes next, one point must be stated plainly.

TRUMP TELLS 'STRANGE' IRANIAN NEGOTIATORS TO 'GET SERIOUS SOON' OR 'IT WON'T BE PRETTY'

The United States military performed with exceptional professionalism and precision. From naval forces operating in the confined waters of the Strait of Hormuz to air crews executing complex strike missions across fifty-five days of conflict, our forces imposed actual costs on a dangerous adversary. They disrupted Iranian capabilities, demonstrated American reach, and restored a measure of deterrence that had eroded over decades.

That performance should not be minimized. But military excellence does not automatically produce strategic resolution — and the IRGC’s response to the ceasefire extension proves the........

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