Fars News, a news agency close to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, cited informed officials on 3/4, stating that the United States conveyed a 48-hour ceasefire proposal to Iran through a "friendly nation" on 2/4.
The source added that Washington intensified diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire, especially after Iran's attack on a US military facility on Bubiyan Island, Kuwait.
According to Fars News, Iranian officials believe this proposal followed an escalation of the regional crisis and "serious problems" faced by US forces due to "miscalculations" regarding Iran's military capabilities.
The news agency stated that Iran did not respond to the US 48-hour ceasefire proposal in writing, but instead rejected it by continuing its attacks.
Washington has not commented on this information.
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Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) paraded in Tehran in 11/2023. *Photo: AFP* |
The Wall Street Journal also reported on the same day, citing sources, that mediation efforts for a ceasefire between the US and Iran, brokered by Pakistan, "reached an impasse." Tehran reportedly informed the mediator it was unwilling to send officials to Islamabad for negotiations in the coming days.
This breakdown prompted Turkey and Egypt to seek alternative locations to Islamabad for talks, with Qatar and Istanbul considered two leading options.
The source further noted that US President Donald Trump discussed the possibility of a "ceasefire" during a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on 1/4.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated on 2/4 that the US President intended to reach an agreement with Iran before 6/4. According to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, contacts with Iran continue, including through intermediaries.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on 31/3 that he directly exchanged messages with US envoy Steve Witkoff, but this does not imply Tehran is negotiating with Washington.
Araghchi stated that Iran would only accept an agreement that completely ends regional attacks, rather than a mere ceasefire. He added that Iran no longer trusts dialogue with the US, having learned from past experiences when Washington unilaterally withdrew from negotiated agreements.
The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the "supreme command" of Iran's armed forces, declared it would launch destructive attacks against US and Israeli targets until both nations "regret and surrender."
Ngoc Anh (According to AA, NDTV, Xinhua)
