Report: Iran tells Qatar, Oman it won’t negotiate with US ‘while under attack’

Mediators Qatar and Oman were told by Iran that Tehran “will not negotiate while under attack,” an official briefed on the talks says, amid a massive exchange of strikes between Israel and the Islamic Republic.

The report appears to be referring both to negotiations for a ceasefire with Israel and the resumption of negotiations with the US for a new nuclear deal.

“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,” the official tells AFP.

Iran has also made it “clear that it will not negotiate while under attack,” the source adds on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks.

“Reports Iran has approached Oman and Qatar with a request to engage the United States to broker a ceasefire with Israel and potentially renew nuclear negotiations are inaccurate,” the source says.