Iran Rejects US 48-Hour Ceasefire Proposal

Tehran has rejected a United States proposal for a 48-hour ceasefire in the ongoing conflict that has pitted Iranian forces against US and Israeli strikes since late February.

The semi-official Fars News Agency broke the story on Friday, quoting an unnamed Iranian official who described the American offer as unacceptable. The proposal reached Tehran on Wednesday through an unnamed third country, the source added.

It remains unclear whether Israel was expected to be bound by the same short truce.

NaijaChoice News reports that the development follows weeks of intense back-channel diplomacy. US President Donald Trump had earlier claimed Iran was the one pushing for a ceasefire, a statement Tehran quickly denied.

Efforts by Pakistan to mediate a broader deal have now collapsed. The Wall Street Journal reported that Tehran refused to send officials to Islamabad, describing American demands as “unacceptable.”

The rejection comes on day 38 of a war that began with US-Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites. Iran has since launched repeated missile barrages at Israel and disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, sending global oil prices higher.

For Nigeria, the conflict carries direct economic stakes. Higher crude prices could boost government revenue, but analysts warn of imported inflation and fuel scarcity if the Strait remains blocked for long.

The Federal Government has maintained a consistent line since the first strikes in February. Abuja called for “restraint and dialogue” and urged all sides to return to the negotiating table. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued security advisories to Nigerians living in Iran and the Gulf.

Prominent Nigerian Muslim clerics have gone further. Some have publicly warned against any further escalation, describing the situation as a threat to regional stability that could affect Muslim communities worldwide.

Diplomats in Abuja say Nigeria is watching closely because any prolonged fighting risks higher living costs at home and fresh insecurity across the Sahel.

As of Monday, neither Washington nor Tel Aviv has commented officially on the latest Iranian rejection. The war, which has already claimed thousands of lives and displaced many more, shows no immediate sign of ending.