Iran Rejects 45-Day Ceasefire as Conflict Escalates

Iran has rejected a proposed 45-day ceasefire plan aimed at de-escalating the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, according to international reports.

The proposal, drafted by mediators from Egypt, Pakistan, and Turkey, had been presented to both sides earlier, calling for a temporary 45-day truce and the reopening of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. However, Iranian officials dismissed the plan, arguing that a temporary ceasefire would only give adversaries time to regroup and prepare for further conflict.

The United States has also not formally accepted the proposal. A White House official told CNN that Washington had not agreed to the terms. Iran’s state news agency IRNA quoted Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei as saying that Tehran is seeking a permanent end to the war rather than a temporary pause that could lead to renewed violence.

According to two Middle Eastern officials cited by the Associated Press, the proposal was conveyed through Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. Despite these diplomatic efforts, deep mistrust and hardline positions on both sides have made the prospects for an agreement uncertain.

Iran has previously stated that it would only consider ending the conflict if guarantees are provided to prevent further attacks, along with compensation for damages already incurred.

Tensions escalated further after US President Donald Trump warned that Iran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours or face attacks on its energy infrastructure and bridges. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump set a deadline of 8:00 pm Tuesday (5:45 am Wednesday Nepali time). Iran has rejected this ultimatum as well.

Violence has intensified in recent days. More than 25 people were killed in attacks across several Iranian cities between Sunday and Monday. At least 15 people died in an airstrike in the Eslamshahr area near Tehran, according to officials.

There were also reports of an attack on Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, which disrupted its online services and forced students to leave the campus. In another incident, six children under the age of 10 were killed in a strike on a residential area in Baharestan County, Tehran, as reported by Iran’s Fars News Agency.

Iranian state media confirmed that Major General Majid Khadami, the intelligence chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was killed in one of the attacks. Israel acknowledged carrying out the strike, stating that it has been targeting senior leadership within the Guard. Several other high-ranking officials have reportedly been killed in previous operations.

Israel has also claimed to have inflicted significant damage on Iran’s steel and petrochemical industries.

The conflict has expanded beyond Iran and Israel, affecting Gulf countries as well. In the United Arab Emirates, an Iranian drone strike reportedly damaged a telecommunications building in Fujairah, while a missile interception in Abu Dhabi left one person injured.

Israel, too, continues to face missile attacks. Strikes in Haifa and central Israeli cities have damaged residential buildings. A previous attack in Haifa killed two people, with two others still reported missing.

The conflict, which began on February 28, has already claimed thousands of lives, disrupted global markets, and blocked critical energy supply routes. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz alone has affected nearly 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas supply.

Meanwhile, President Trump’s threats have drawn sharp criticism within the United States. Members of the opposition Democratic Party have condemned his remarks, warning that targeting civilian infrastructure would violate international law.

Congressman Jim McGovern criticized the rhetoric, saying it undermines international humanitarian law and sets a dangerous precedent. Senator Ed Markey argued that threatening war crimes would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz and called for diplomatic negotiations to end the conflict and stabilize prices.

Senator Chris Murphy described the proposed actions as clear war crimes and urged Republican leaders to intervene. Senator Elissa Slotkin also condemned the idea of targeting civilian infrastructure, calling it both irresponsible and wrong, especially when framed as an effort to help the Iranian people.

Senator Brian Schatz echoed similar concerns, urging Americans to speak out against such actions, stating that bombing civilian infrastructure constitutes a war crime and must be opposed.