New Delhi: Iran on Wednesday dismissed any plans to negotiate with the US while intensifying military operations in the Middle East. The escalation comes amid ongoing conflict and international diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on state television that Tehran had not engaged in talks to end the war and has no plans to do so. He added that speaking about negotiations at this stage would amount to admitting defeat, according to theguardian.com.
The statement followed reports from Iranian state TV’s English-language channel quoting an anonymous official, saying Iran rejected a US ceasefire proposal and submitted its own conditions for ending the fighting. Pakistani officials who reportedly conveyed the US proposal described the 15-point plan in broad terms.
The US administration maintained that discussions with Iran continue. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday that talks remain productive, echoing President Donald Trump’s earlier remarks. She warned that diplomatic failure could trigger more intense military actions.
Maintaining a firm stance, US President Doland Trump asserted that Iran is indeed negotiating, but is hesitant to acknowledge it publicly out of fear of internal backlash as well as potential consequences from the US. “They’re afraid to say it because they figure they’ll be killed by their own people”, Trump said, adding that “they’re also afraid they’ll be killed by us”.
Also Read: Iran says ‘non-hostile’ ships can cross Hormuz, talks gain momentum
Meanwhile, the regional conflict is intensifying. Iran has launched additional attacks targeting Israel and Gulf Arab nations. Hezbollah also rejected ceasefire talks with Israel. The Israeli military carried out fresh strikes in southern Lebanon and expanded a “buffer zone.”
Lebanon’s National News Agency reported artillery shelling and airstrikes across multiple southern locations on Wednesday. The health ministry confirmed at least eight fatalities. An airstrike targeted Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold. Israel said it struck a command center after issuing renewed evacuation warnings. Agence France-Presse reported streets littered with debris, including shattered cement and twisted metal. Upper floors of apartment buildings were damaged. Most of the area had been evacuated due to repeated attacks.
The crisis is affecting global diplomacy. Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in mid-May. His first scheduled visit in eight years was postponed due to the Middle East conflict. Trump announced on social media that he will visit Beijing on May 14–15 and host Xi in Washington later this year. Joint US-Israel military operations targeting Iran have added tension to US-China relations, as Iran remains a key oil supplier to China.
International involvement is also growing. Reports cited by the Financial Times indicate Russia is close to completing a phased shipment of drones, medicine, and food to Iran. Western intelligence sources told the FT that senior Iranian and Russian officials began secret discussions about the deliveries days after joint US and Israeli attacks on Tehran on February 28. Processing of the shipments began early this month and is expected to conclude by the end of March.
