Tehran, 2 March 2026 (dpa/MIA) - A senior Iranian official said on Monday that Tehran would not enter negotiations with Washington, rejecting a media report that he had sought to open talks via intermediaries in Oman despite ongoing attacks in the region.

Ali Larijani, secretary general of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, wrote on X that US President Donald Trump had "plunged the region into chaos." He said Iran did not start the war and would continue to defend itself.

Larijani has emerged as a key figure in Iran's power structure following the killing of supreme leader Ali Khamenei on Saturday. The Wall Street Journal reported that Larijani had approached mediator Oman regarding new talks with the US focused on Iran's disputed nuclear programme.

Trump indicated willingness to talk on Sunday, saying in a telephone interview with The Atlantic: "They want to talk, and I have agreed to talk, so I will be talking to them," while criticizing Iran for having waited too long. He gave no details on potential discussions.

Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have cited Iran's nuclear programme as one of the justifications for joint strikes against the country. Tehran denies the allegation that it is pursuing nuclear weapons.

MIA file photo