Iran Rejects Ceasefire Negotiations When Attacked By Israel

Israeli attacks on Tehran, Iran. (Wikimedia Commons/Mohammadjavad Alikhani/Mehr News Agency)

JAKARTA - Iran has notified Qatar and Oman mediators it was not open to negotiating a ceasefire when it was attacked by Israel, an official briefed on the communications said on Sunday.

"Iran informed Qatar and Oman mediators that they would only carry out serious negotiations after Iran completed its response to Israel's preliminary offensive," the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the conflict, told Reuters.

Iran insists "that they will not negotiate when attacked," the official said.

The official told Reuters media reports that Iran appealed to Oman and Qatar to engage the US to mediate a ceasefire and update nuclear negotiations inaccurate.

Separately, Iran's Foreign Ministry did not respond to Reuters' request for comment, neither did Qatari Foreign Ministry nor Oman's Ministry of Information.

Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran on Friday morning targeting nuclear and military facilities, saying the campaign would continue to escalate in the coming days.

On the other hand, Iran has vowed to "open the gates of hell" in retaliation for what has emerged as the biggest confrontation ever between these mortal enemies.

In recent months Oman has mediated nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran, although the final round, which was originally scheduled to be held yesterday, was canceled a day after Israel launched a massive airstrike against Iran.

Qatar has also played a role in facilitating negotiations between the two arch-foe enemies in the past, the latest of which is to mediate a prisoner swap agreement in 2023.

As for Oman and Qatar in addition to having good relations with Iran and the US, they have also communicated directly with Israel.