Iran Dismisses US Ceasefire Proposal Amid Rising Tensions

Iran's Firm Stance Against US Ceasefire Offer

Tehran: Iran has turned down a proposal from the United States for a 48-hour ceasefire, as reported by the semi-official Fars news agency.

The US communicated this proposal to Iran via a 'friendly' nation on Thursday, according to an informed source cited by Fars.

In light of an Iranian attack on a US military depot located on Bubiyan Island in Kuwait, Washington has intensified its diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire, as reported by Xinhua.

Fars indicated that the ceasefire proposal emerged amid escalating regional tensions and significant challenges faced by US forces, attributed to a 'miscalculation' regarding Iran's military strength.

The report further noted that Iran did not formally respond to the ceasefire offer but instead continued its military operations.

In a related development, the Iranian military confirmed that its air defense systems successfully shot down a US A-10 'Warthog' attack aircraft over southern Iranian waters near the Strait of Hormuz, with the plane crashing into the Persian Gulf.

This announcement followed the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reporting the downing of a US F-35 fighter jet earlier in the day within Iranian airspace. Additionally, a US Black Hawk helicopter was reportedly struck by a projectile while searching for the pilot of the downed fighter jet.

Yadollah Rahmani, the governor of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, urged residents in rural and tribal areas to assist in locating 'enemy pilots.'

On February 28, Israel and the United States conducted joint strikes on Tehran and other Iranian cities, resulting in the death of Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with several senior military officials and civilians. In retaliation, Iran launched missile and drone attacks targeting US and Israeli assets in the Middle East.