Iran has reportedly rejected the US proposal for a short-term ceasefire, according to an unnamed source cited by the country’s semi-official Fars news agency. The source told Fars News Agency that the offer, which called for a cessation of hostilities for 48 hours, was delivered on Wednesday through an intermediary country that he did not specify.
The rejection comes as the Middle East enters its fifth consecutive month of war, with no end in sight. Earlier on Friday (local time), US officials confirmed that Iran had targeted another US aircraft near the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in the downing of an A-10 Warthog attack aircraft. The Iranian army claimed responsibility for the attack. This is the second American aircraft struck by Iran this week, after a previous strike that shot down an F-15 fighter jet.As the war continues to escalate, efforts by countries in the region, including Pakistan, to mediate between the two sides have failed to make any progress. Iran has informed the mediators that it does not intend to hold talks with American officials in Islamabad in the coming days, and considers American demands unacceptable. Meanwhile, Türkiye and Egypt are also exploring alternative locations for potential discussions, with Qatar and Istanbul being considered.
Tensions were also exacerbated by recent statements by US President Donald Trump. A senior Iranian official denied Trump’s claims that Iran’s “new regime president” sought a ceasefire. In response, the official dismissed Trump’s social media post, saying: “The president of the new Iranian regime… just asked the United States of America for a ceasefire!”According to a senior Iranian source quoted by Reuters, Tehran instead insists on a guaranteed ceasefire that will end the conflict permanently.
The source added that while mediators reached out on Tuesday to continue diplomatic engagement, there were no discussions about a temporary truce.Iranian authorities also responded publicly against Trump’s statements. The Consulate General of Iran in Mumbai criticized his comments in a post on X, saying: “On April Fools’ Day, it is almost poetic that Donald Trump still manages to get the best of jokes, talking about a ‘new’ Iranian president when Dr. Pezeshkian has been in office the whole time.”She added: “Reality check: Presidents are not replaced by tweets…that is the point of elections.”Meanwhile, the Iranian Foreign Ministry renewed its position, rejecting the claim that Tehran is seeking a ceasefire. State television quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei as saying, “Trump’s statements regarding Iran’s request for a ceasefire are false and baseless.”This development comes at a time when the Middle East crisis is more than one month old, and tensions continue to escalate. After the United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran, Tehran responded by strangling the key Strait of Hormuz, sending shockwaves through global oil markets.
