Iran has told mediators Qatar and Oman that it is not open to negotiating a ceasefire while it is under Israeli attack, an official briefed on the communications told Reuters.
“The Iranians informed Qatari and Omani mediators that they will only pursue serious negotiations once Iran has completed its response to the Israeli attacks,” 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.
IRAN TELLS MEDIATORS QATAR AND OMAN IT IS NOT OPEN TO NEGOTIATING CEASEFIRE WITH ISRAEL WHILE UNDER ISRAELI ATTACK
— *Walter Bloomberg (@DeItaone) June 15, 2025
Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran on Friday morning that assassinated 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.
In response to the West demanding a ceasefire based on Iran ending all retalliation against Israel, Iran’ President Masoud Pezeshkian responds,” The promises of the leaders of America and Europe to ceasefure ub exchange for out noit responding to the killing of Haniyeh were pure lies”.
🇪🇺🇺🇸🇮🇷🇮🇱🚨‼️ BREAKING: The West promised a ceasefire if Iran does not retaliate against Israel!
“The promises of the leaders of America and Europe to cease fire in exchange for our not responding to the killing of Haniyeh were pure lies”
— Iranian president pic.twitter.com/V3OhRD9c9T— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) September 29, 2024
The official told Reuters media reports that 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.
Oman has in recent months mediated nuclear talks between the United States and Iran, though the most recent round was canceled a day after Israel launched a sweeping air offensive against Iran.
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.
Read: Israel’s attacks could result in regime change in Iran: Netanyahu
🇮🇷 Iran leader KHAMENEI:
“US shamelessly vetoes the ceasefire resolution for the umpteenth time. Western civilization has shown itself… on the outside they appear with a smile on their faces. On the inside, they are like a rabid dog” pic.twitter.com/ig079uR2Ye
— COMBATE |🇵🇷 (@upholdreality) February 24, 2024
Israel’s military said on June 15 that several sites were hit by the latest Iranian missile barrage, with firefighters reporting a residential building struck on the country’s Mediterranean coast at night, as Iranian military said they launched a new wave of ballistic missiles at Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Ashkelon.
Earlier, Israel unleashed a punishing barrage of strikes across Iran, hitting targets from the west to Tehran and as far east as Mashhad, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to make Iran pay a “heavy price” for killing its civilians.
With no let-up in sight, Iran said it would begin opening mosques, metro stations and schools to serve as makeshift bomb shelters for civilians, as Israel kept up its withering blows.
The Iranian military said its “mission will continue” as long as necessary.
As Israel targeted sites across Iran on Sunday, Iran responded with barrages of missiles, with residents told to seek shelter as booms were heard over occupied Jerusalem and other cities, and aerial defence systems reportedly activated in Tehran.
Over the weekend, Iran launched waves of retaliatory drones and missiles at Israeli targets, hitting military bases and civilian infrastructure.
At least 14 people in Israel have been reported dead, with dozens more injured, Al Jazeera reported.
Iranian authorities say more than 220 civilians, including 25 children, have been killed in Israeli strikes on major Iranian cities and infrastructure. Bombings have targeted northern Tehran’s Niavaran district, as well as Saadat Abad, Valiasr and Hafte Tir.
