Washington, April 21 (NationPress) The tenuous two-week US-Iran ceasefire is approaching its expiration on Wednesday evening, casting uncertainty over new negotiations and the fate of the Strait of Hormuz, after US President Donald Trump described any extension of the truce as "extremely unlikely."

When asked if he anticipates military strikes to resume immediately should an agreement not be reached, Trump stated, "If there’s no deal, I would certainly expect that."

These comments surfaced as reports indicated that Washington was attempting to maintain diplomatic avenues. US Vice President JD Vance, who facilitated the initial round of in-person discussions, is set to travel to Islamabad by Tuesday for further talks, according to Axios citing US sources.

Indicating a potential openness to engagement, Trump mentioned to The Washington Post that he would be willing to meet with senior Iranian officials if significant progress is made and added in a separate interview with Bloomberg that his personal presence at the discussions might not be essential.

However, signals from Tehran have been inconsistent. Axios reported that the Iranian delegation received approval from the supreme leader on Monday night to engage in discussions with the United States, but officials refrained from confirming their participation, as noted by Xinhua news agency.

Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, stated earlier on Monday that Iran currently has no plans for a second round of talks and that US actions do not reflect a genuine commitment to diplomatic efforts.

Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran's Foreign Minister, remarked on Monday that the US's "provocative actions" and "ceasefire violations" are significant barriers to continuing peace negotiations between the two nations.

A senior Iranian official, speaking anonymously to The Washington Post, mentioned that Trump's public remarks and the ongoing US blockade were the two most pressing concerns threatening discussions. The official added that while both parties largely agree on the framework of a potential deal, Trump's public "maximalism" could jeopardize diplomatic advancements.

Tensions remain high in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow passage where about one-fifth of the world’s oil trade flows. Iran had briefly reopened the strait following the initial ceasefire but imposed new restrictions after the US Navy seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship attempting to breach the blockade over the weekend.

Trump indicated that the Strait of Hormuz would remain blocked until a peace agreement is finalized, stating in a phone interview, "They want me to open it. The Iranians desperately want it opened. I’m not opening it until a deal is signed."

Despite the maritime standoff, some indications of domestic normalization have surfaced in Iran. The Civil Aviation Authority of Iran announced on Monday that Tehran's major airports—Imam Khomeini International Airport and Mehrabad International Airport—have resumed passenger flights following weeks of wartime closures, as reported by the semi-official Fars news agency.

The initial ceasefire had been hailed as a rare opportunity for de-escalation after over seven weeks of conflict. Talks in Islamabad earlier this month yielded no breakthroughs, with both sides exchanging public criticisms since then.