Iran has informed mediators from Qatar and Oman that it will not engage in negotiations while under attack from Israel.
A senior official familiar with the talks said Tehran made it clear it would only consider serious negotiations after completing its response to Israeli preemptive strikes.
This follows three days of intense Israeli bombardments across Iran, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to make Iran “pay a heavy price” for strikes that killed civilians. The situation has sparked fears of a wider Middle East war.
Despite reports suggesting Iran had asked Qatar and Oman to engage the United States in brokering a ceasefire and restarting nuclear talks, the official dismissed those claims as inaccurate.
A planned sixth round of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks in Muscat, Oman, was canceled due to the escalating conflict. The talks had been ongoing since April, but the recent surge in Israeli strikes has cast doubt on their future.
Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump, while denying any American involvement in Israel’s military campaign, warned Iran not to target U.S. interests and urged both sides to consider a deal.
