Iran has informed Qatari and Omani mediators that it will not consider ceasefire negotiations with Israel while under active military assault, according to a senior official familiar with the talks. The communication follows Israel’s surprise strike on Friday, which reportedly targeted top Iranian military officials and nuclear facilities.
The unnamed official told Reuters that Tehran made it clear it would only engage in meaningful dialogue once it had completed its military response. “The Iranians informed Qatari and Omani mediators that they will only pursue serious negotiations once Iran has completed its response to the Israeli attacks,” the source said.
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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian further criticized Western leaders for offering false promises of a ceasefire in exchange for Iranian restraint. “The promises of the leaders of America and Europe were pure lies,” he stated, referencing Iran’s refusal to remain passive after the killing of key figures like Ismail Haniyeh.
The conflict has quickly become one of the most intense escalations between the two long-standing enemies. Oman and Qatar, both of whom have previously facilitated backchannel diplomacy between Iran, the US, and Israel, have not commented on the latest developments.
