Iran has denied reports that it sent messages to the United States amid the ongoing conflict, insisting its armed forces are preparing for a prolonged war rather than negotiations.
An unnamed Iranian official told the semi-official Tasnim news agency early Thursday that Tehran had not communicated with Washington and had no intention of responding to any US outreach.
“No message has been sent from Iran to the US, nor will any response be given to US messages,” the official said, according to Tasnim.
The official added that Iran’s military was preparing for a drawn-out confrontation.
“Iran’s armed forces have prepared themselves for a long war,” the official said.
The denial came in response to a report by Axios on Wednesday that suggested Iranian officials had sent messages to the United States in recent days but did not receive a reply.
The report cited an American official and another source familiar with the matter.
Tehran’s response appeared aimed at rejecting suggestions that backchannel diplomacy might be underway even as fighting intensifies across the region.
ISRAELI CONCERNS OVER POSSIBLE CONTACTS
According to Axios, the possibility of communication between Washington and Tehran also raised concerns in Israel.
The report said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu contacted the White House earlier this week after Israeli intelligence suggested that some form of contact between the Trump administration and Iranian officials might have taken place regarding a potential ceasefire.
Netanyahu reportedly called US officials on Monday to ask whether any talks or exchanges of messages had occurred.
“The White House told Bibi that the Trump administration wasn’t talking to the Iranians behind his back,” one source familiar with the conversation told Axios.
A US official said communication between Washington and Israeli leaders has remained constant during the conflict. “They know we are not talking to the Iranians,” the US official said.
Meanwhile, The New York Times reported Wednesday that operatives linked to Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence had attempted indirect contact with the CIA through the intelligence service of a third country to discuss possible terms for ending the conflict.
US President Donald Trump has also dismissed the idea of negotiations with Tehran.
In a post on Truth Social Tuesday, Trump said Iran had already lost much of its military capability.
“Their air defense, Air Force, Navy, and Leadership is gone. They want to talk. I said ‘Too Late!’” Trump wrote.
With inputs from agencies
