Iran Rejects US Ceasefire Offer as Tensions Escalate with Fresh Military Strikes

Tehran, April 2026 : Iran has rejected a United States proposal for a 48-hour ceasefire, signaling a further escalation in the ongoing conflict as both sides continue military operations across the region.

According to Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency, the ceasefire proposal was conveyed to Tehran through a “friendly” intermediary country on Thursday. However, Iranian authorities declined the offer, reportedly responding not through formal communication but by continuing their military actions on the ground.

The development comes amid intensified diplomatic efforts by Washington to de-escalate the situation, particularly after an Iranian strike targeted a US military depot on Kuwait’s Bubiyan Island. Reports suggest the proposal was prompted by growing instability in the region and operational challenges faced by US forces, allegedly due to underestimating Iran’s military capabilities.

At the same time, the conflict witnessed significant military developments. The Iranian army claimed that its air defence systems successfully shot down a US A-10 “Warthog” attack aircraft over southern waters near the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz. The aircraft reportedly crashed into the Persian Gulf.

In a separate claim, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated earlier that it had downed a US F-35 fighter jet in central Iranian airspace. Adding to the series of incidents, Iran’s Mehr News Agency later reported that a US Black Hawk helicopter was struck by a projectile while conducting a search operation for a missing pilot from one of the downed aircraft.

Authorities in Iran have also called on local populations to assist in locating enemy personnel. Yadollah Rahmani, governor of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, urged residents in tribal and rural areas to cooperate with officials in identifying and reporting the whereabouts of “enemy pilots.”

The current escalation traces back to February 28, when joint military strikes by Israel and the United States targeted Tehran and other Iranian cities, reportedly killing Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei along with senior military officials and civilians. In retaliation, Iran launched multiple waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israeli and US positions across the Middle East.

With both sides maintaining aggressive postures, prospects for an immediate ceasefire appear increasingly uncertain, raising concerns over a prolonged and wider regional conflict.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)