Trump rejects efforts to launch Iran ceasefire talks, sources say
Two senior Iranian sources told Reuters that Iran has ruled out any ceasefire until US and Israeli attacks end, adding that many countries are trying to mediate an end to the conflict.
Washington and Tehran’s lack of interest suggests both sides are preparing for a protracted conflict, even though the widening war has caused civilian casualties and Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz has caused oil prices to rise.
The US attack on Iran’s Kharg Island, the country’s main oil export hub, on Friday night underlined Trump’s determination to continue his military offensive. Iran’s new religious leader Mojtaba Khamenei has vowed to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed and threatened to step up attacks on neighboring countries.
The war has killed more than 2,000 people, mostly in Iran, and caused the biggest oil supply disruption ever, halting maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the world’s oil is carried.
EFFORTS TO OPEN COMMUNICATION LINES
Oman, which mediated talks before the war, tried multiple times to open a line of communication, but the White House made clear it was not interested, according to two sources; Like others in this story, they were granted anonymity so they could speak freely about diplomatic matters.
A senior White House official confirmed that Trump has rebuffed efforts to start talks and is focused on continuing the war to further weaken Tehran’s military capabilities. “He’s not interested in it right now, and we’ll continue the mission unabated. Maybe one day, but ‘not right now,'” the official said.
During the first week of the war, Trump wrote on the Truth Social platform that the Iranian leadership and military were so battered by the US-Israeli attacks that they wanted to talk, but now “It’s Too Late!” He wrote that it was. He has a history of changing foreign policy stances without warning, making it hard to rule out the possibility that he could test the waters to restart diplomacy.
When asked to comment for this story, a second senior White House official said, “President Trump has indicated that potential new leadership in Iran wants to talk and will eventually talk. For now, Operation Epic Rage continues unabated.”
Iranian sources said Tehran has rejected efforts by many countries to negotiate a ceasefire until the United States and Israel end airstrikes and meet Iran’s demands, including a permanent end to US and Israeli attacks and compensation as part of the ceasefire.
Egypt, which acted as a mediator before the war, also tried to reopen communications, according to three security and diplomatic sources. While there appears to be no progress in the effort, some military restraint has been achieved from neighboring countries that Iran has hit, according to one of the sources.
The Egyptian foreign ministry, the Omani government and the Iranian government did not respond to requests for comment.
LOCATIONS ARE STRENGTHENING ON EVERY SIDE
The war’s impact on global oil markets significantly increased the cost to the United States.
Some US officials and Trump’s advisers are calling for an immediate end to the war, warning that rising gasoline prices as the US midterm elections approach could impose a high political price on the president’s Republican Party.
Others are pressing Trump to continue the offensive against the Islamic Republic, destroy its missile program and prevent it from obtaining nuclear weapons, according to a Reuters report.
Trump’s rejection of diplomatic efforts may indicate that the administration has no plans for a quick end to the war for now.
Indeed, according to various sources, both the United States and Iran appear less willing to engage than in the early days of the war, when senior US officials reached Oman to discuss de-escalation.
Iran’s top security official, Ali Larijani, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are also trying to use Oman as a conduit for ceasefire talks that could include US Vice President J.D. Vance, one of the sources said.
But these discussions did not take place.
Instead, Iran’s stance has hardened, a third senior Iranian source said.
“What was previously communicated through diplomatic channels no longer has any significance,” the source said.
“The Guard strongly believes that Iran will lose the war if they lose control of the Strait of Hormuz,” the source added, referring to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, an elite paramilitary force that controls large parts of the economy.
“Therefore, the Guard will not accept any ceasefire, ceasefire talks, or diplomatic efforts, and Iran’s political leaders will not engage in such talks, despite attempts by many countries.”
