Iran Rejects Ceasefire Proposal as U.S. Deadline Nears

Iran has rejected a 45-day ceasefire proposal, demanding a permanent end to hostilities, as the deadline set by President Donald Trump for reopening the Strait of Hormuz approaches. Mojtaba Ferdousi Pour, head of Iran's diplomatic mission in Cairo, stated, "We won't merely accept a ceasefire. We only accept an end of the war with guarantees that we won't be attacked again."

The ceasefire proposal, known as the Islamabad Accord, was introduced on April 5, 2026, by Pakistan, aiming to halt the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran. The framework called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and a 15–20 day period of negotiations between the two nations.

President Trump acknowledged the proposal as a "very significant step" but deemed it "not good enough," maintaining his ultimatum for Iran to reopen the strategic waterway by Tuesday evening. He warned of potential large-scale strikes on Iranian infrastructure, including power plants and bridges, if the deadline is not met.

Diplomatic efforts continue, with mediators from Pakistan and other regional countries working to bridge the gap between the U.S. and Iran. However, significant disagreements persist regarding the terms of any cessation of hostilities.