Sky News interrupted programming to report Iran has rejected a US 48-hour ceasefire proposal as an American F-15 fighter jet was shot down over Iranian territory
Sky News presenter Jonathan Samuels broke into regular programming to announce breaking news that constitutes a blow for President Donald Trump.
“A little bit of breaking news coming out of the Middle East,” he started. “[We’re] hearing in the last few moments from the Reuters News Agency that Iran has rejected a US proposal for a 48-hour ceasefire. That’s according to an unnamed source speaking to Reuters. Iran, rejecting a US proposal, apparently,” he continued while assuring viewers the network would deliver updates as the situation unfolds.
Reports suggest the nation officially notified intermediaries it won’t take part in talks with American officials in Islamabad over the coming days. Iran’s senior diplomat has previously stated that it will accept only a full cessation of hostilities, not a temporary pause. This latest development came after reports that an American F-15 Eagle was brought down over Iranian airspace on Friday, April 3.
Trump subsequently told NBC News that the aircraft being shot down doesn’t influence negotiations, but declined to comment on the continuing search and rescue operation.
When asked whether Friday, April 3’s events would impact any discussions with Iran, he answered, “No, not at all. No, it’s war. We’re in a war.”
A portion of the exchange was posted online, where X users were swift to criticize Trump and his statements. One user wrote, “He’s losing both the war and his sanity.
“When everything was ‘under control,’ it wasn’t war. Now aircraft are going down, and suddenly it is? You don’t get to redefine reality when things start falling apart. That’s not leadership. That’s damage control,” another pointed out.
A third fan suggested, “I don’t think Trump has the stomach for Vietnam like military casualties. If that’s the case then he’s got to get us out of there.
“After the second WW Churchill admitted, that the Nazis could have occupied Britain, but only if Hitler had been prepared to lose a million men.”
The President’s national security advisors are delivering him with ongoing updates on retrieval operations for the F-15 in Iran, according to a White House spokesperson.
Sources reveal the President has been positioned in the Oval Office and the adjacent dining room since the news emerged earlier today, receiving constant briefings on unfolding events.
US special forces have entered Iran to recover the second crew member of the destroyed aircraft. Tehran brought down the jet over its airspace, representing the first fighter jet shot down by hostile fire since the conflict commenced just over a month ago.
Reports confirm two crew members ejected from the plane, one of whom was rescued by a pair of US military helicopters and low-altitude refueling aircraft, which Iranian forces also engaged.
Both aircraft were struck, with one clearly trailing smoke as it withdrew to Iraqi territory, where it landed safely, according to officials. One of the two American pilots aboard the downed fighter jet has been retrieved alive by U.S. forces, as confirmed by two U.S. officials speaking to NBC News.
The recovered pilot is presently undergoing medical treatment, according to two U.S. officials who spoke to Newsmax. A search and rescue operation for the second pilot is still ongoing, reports indicate.
