Iran rejects US 48-hour ceasefire proposal — FM previously demanded only permanent end to war

Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency reported on April 3 that Iran had rejected a US proposal for a 48-hour ceasefire, citing an unnamed source. The nature and origin of the US proposal were not fully detailed; it may have been connected to the ongoing search and rescue operation for the missing F-15E navigator, where a temporary halt could have facilitated recovery efforts. President Trump told NBC News separately that the shootdown of the F-15E would not affect ongoing negotiations with Iran, suggesting Washington was still pursuing a diplomatic track despite the aircraft losses. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had earlier in the week stated that Iran would only accept a permanent end to the war — not any temporary ceasefire arrangement — and that negotiations on any other basis were unacceptable. The rejection of even a short-term ceasefire, alongside Iran's active search for the missing US aviator and bounty offer, signals Tehran's intent to exploit the aircraft loss politically and militarily rather than use it as a de-escalation moment.