Iran has informed mediators Qatar and Oman that it is not willing to negotiate a ceasefire while facing Israeli attacks, an official familiar with the discussions told Reuters on Sunday, as both sides launched fresh strikes, fuelling concerns of a broader regional conflict.
“The Iranians informed Qatari and Omani mediators that they will only pursue serious negotiations once Iran has completed its response to the Israeli pre-emptive strikes,” said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the conflict.
Iran made “clear that it will not negotiate while under attack”, the official said.
Surprise Attack
Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran on Friday morning that wiped out the top echelon of Iran’s military command and damaged its nuclear sites, and says the campaign will continue to escalate in coming days.
Iran has vowed to “open the gates of hell” in retaliation in what has emerged as the biggest ever confrontation between the longstanding enemies.
The official told Reuters that media reports that said Iran appealed to Oman and Qatar to engage the US to broker a ceasefire and renew nuclear talks were inaccurate.
Iran’s foreign ministry did not respond to Reuters request for comment, nor did Qatar’s foreign ministry or Oman’s ministry of information.
Talks Halt
In recent months, Oman has played a key role in mediating nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran. However, the latest round of talks was abruptly cancelled just a day after Israel launched a large-scale air offensive against Iran, further escalating regional tensions and disrupting diplomatic efforts.
Qatar has also played a role facilitating talks between the two foes in the past, most recently mediating a prisoner swap agreement in 2023.
Oman and Qatar have good relations with both Iran and the US and they also have communicated directly with Israel.
(With inputs from Reuters)
