Iran has rejected a US proposal for a 48-hour ceasefire, according to a report by Fars News Agency on Friday.
The proposal was conveyed to Tehran through a "friendly" country a day earlier, with sources indicating that Washington has intensified diplomatic efforts to pause hostilities. This push comes in the wake of an Iranian strike targeting a US "military forces depot" on Kuwait's Bubiyan Island, signalling a sharp escalation in the conflict.
According to Fars, the ceasefire offer followed growing regional instability and what it described as "serious problems" faced by US forces due to a "miscalculation" of Iran's military capabilities. Iran, however, chose not to formally respond in writing, instead signalling its rejection through continued military operations.
At the same time, Pakistan's attempt to position itself as a mediator appears to have faltered. A report by The Wall Street Journal said Iran declined to engage with any US-led delegation in Islamabad, reflecting a deep trust deficit. Tehran has also reportedly termed the US demands "unacceptable," further dimming prospects of an early resolution.
On the military front, tensions continue to intensify. Iran's air defence systems reportedly shot down a US A-10 Warthog over southern waters near the Strait of Hormuz, with the aircraft crashing into the Persian Gulf. Earlier in the day, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it had downed a US F-35 fighter jet in central Iranian airspace.
Further adding to the escalation, Iran's Mehr News Agency reported that a US Black Hawk helicopter was also struck while conducting a search operation for the downed jet's pilot. Yadollah Rahmani, governor of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, has urged local residents to assist authorities in locating what he described as "enemy pilots."
The conflict traces back to February 28, when the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Tehran and other Iranian cities, killing Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military officials and civilians. In retaliation, Iran has since carried out waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and US assets across the Middle East.
