Reopening talks with Washington impossible as long as US attacks continue — Iranian source

Iran Rules Out Talks While US Strikes Continue, Warns of Offensive Phase

A senior Iranian source has stated that negotiations with Washington cannot be reopened as long as US attacks on Iran persist, according to TASS. "Unfortunately, they [the United States] are attacking us right now. And we cannot reopen talks as long as they attack. Discussing the idea of holding talks is unacceptable," the source emphasized. The official added that if Washington genuinely seeks to revive talks, it should first cease its attacks and bombardment of Iran.

In a separate development, Reuters reported, citing an Iranian source, that countries mediating between Iran and the United States have proposed a 10-day ceasefire to discuss ways to revive an interim deal. The proposal, passed to Iran, aims to de-escalate the ongoing conflict.

Escalation Since July 8

The current round of escalation began on July 8, when the United States, despite a memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran, delivered a series of airstrikes on Iran. The US claimed the attack was in retaliation for a strike on a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. On the same day, US President Donald Trump declared that the ceasefire with Iran was no longer effective. In response, Iran began attacking US assets in Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman.

Threat of Offensive Operations

Mohsen Rezaee, the Supreme Leader’s military adviser, warned on Iran’s public broadcaster that if US attacks continue over the next two to three days, the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will move from the phase of containment and response measures to the "offensive and complete obliteration" phase. Rezaee stated that Tehran would target US bases not only in the conflict zone but also outside it. He also noted that Iran has so far limited its retaliations, but this restraint will not last for long.

Skepticism About Negotiations

The Iranian source expressed doubt that negotiations with Washington could be reopened amid ongoing US strikes, calling the idea of holding talks "unacceptable" under current conditions. This stance aligns with Rezaee’s warning that the policy of negotiating during war is over. The mediators’ ceasefire proposal has not yet been publicly accepted or rejected by either side.