Iran Denies Intention to Negotiate with US; Ali Larijani Labels Trump "Delusional"

Middle Eastern tensions reached a critical peak following a brutal and deadly assault by Israel and the United States on Iran on Saturday, 28 February, shocking the world.

Tensions in the Middle East escalated dramatically after Iran’s Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, firmly denied any diplomatic efforts or negotiations with the United States. This statement came amid military escalation involving direct attacks between Tehran and the US-Israel coalition.

Through social media platform X on Monday, 2 March, Larijani refuted international media reports, including those from The Wall Street Journal and Al Jazeera, which claimed Iran was attempting to open channels of communication with Washington through Omani mediation.

In forceful terms, Larijani stated that Iran would never engage in talks with the United States under current circumstances.

Beyond denying the negotiation claims, Larijani also launched sharp criticism at US President Donald Trump. He assessed that Trump’s foreign policy has dragged the Middle East region into chaos for the sake of Israel’s power ambitions.

Larijani accused Trump of betraying the “America First” slogan and transforming it into “Israel First”. According to him, the US military have become victims of the empty illusions and delusions of their own leadership. He further emphasised that US military families must pay a heavy price due to the falsehoods produced by their government.

This forceful statement from Tehran was prompted by the bloodshed of the previous weekend. The joint military campaign launched by the US and Israel on Saturday reportedly killed several senior Iranian officials.

Reports even circulated suggesting that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was among those killed in the attack.

In retaliation, Tehran launched waves of drone and missile attacks targeting several regions in Gulf countries. Based on current data, the retaliatory strikes resulted in significant casualties and damage.

Larijani’s rejection of negotiations indicates that the door to diplomacy has been firmly closed. With the situation continuing to heat up, the international community now fears a large-scale open war could occur, disrupting global security and economic stability.