Iran Closes Door to Dialogue as US-Israel Conflict Predicted to Become Prolonged War

Tensions in the Middle East have reached a critical point following a massive military escalation launched by the United States and Israel against Iran since Saturday, 28 February 2026. Iran’s National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani has firmly stated that Tehran will not open diplomatic channels with the United States, dismissing Western media reports of diplomatic initiatives through Oman as mediator. Larijani instead accused US President Donald Trump of plunging the region into chaos for political interests aligned with “Israel First”.

The military operations, codenamed Operation Lion’s Roar by Israel and Epic Fury by the United States, have reportedly disabled several strategic infrastructure facilities, though the humanitarian toll has been substantial. Larijani denied allegations of Western mediation efforts, directly blaming the Trump administration for the escalation.

Dino Patti Djalal, founder of the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI), argues that these military actions are not merely an attempt to halt Iran’s nuclear programme, but a systematic effort to overthrow the Tehran government. “This will become a prolonged conflict because Iran has significant political and military networks across the region,” he stated.

Global attention now focuses on Iran’s interim Leadership Council, led by Ayatollah Alireza Arafi. The decisions taken by this transitional leadership will determine whether the conflict will escalate into a broader regional war or remain localised within the Persian region. The closure of diplomatic channels and Iran’s defiant stance suggest a further hardening of positions, with little prospect for near-term resolution.