Iran's Firm Stance Against US Negotiations
Ali Larijani, Iran's influential security chief, has emphatically stated that Tehran will not engage in negotiations with the United States. This declaration comes in the wake of the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei by what Iranian officials describe as US-Israeli forces. Mr Larijani, who previously served as an adviser to the late supreme leader, has dismissed circulating reports suggesting Iranian authorities were seeking to revive diplomatic talks with Washington to conclude the ongoing warfare.
Denial of Diplomatic Overtures
Recent media coverage, including a report from the Wall Street Journal, indicated that Iran had attempted to initiate discussions with the Donald Trump administration. This purported effort followed a series of US-Israeli strikes over the weekend that ignited a broader regional conflict, occurring just days after nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington had taken place in Oman. Mr Larijani categorically refuted these claims in a post on the social media platform X, asserting, "We will not negotiate with the United States."
In an earlier communication, he accused former President Trump of plunging the region into chaos through what he termed "delusional fantasies" and expressed concern over potential American troop casualties. "Today, the Iranian nation is defending itself," Mr Larijani added. "The armed forces of Iran did not initiate the aggression."
Escalation of Military Confrontations
The latest US-Israeli assault on Iran, marking the second such incident within eight months, has precipitated a significant expansion of hostilities across the Middle East. In retaliation, Tehran launched missiles and drones targeting Israel and US installations located in Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Concurrently, Israeli and American forces conducted bombings on Iranian missile sites and naval assets, reportedly destroying multiple warships.
Supreme Leader Khamenei is among several high-ranking Iranian political and military figures who perished in these attacks. The total death toll has approached 200 individuals, including over 100 schoolgirls who died when their elementary school in southern Iran was struck by a missile on Saturday. Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, condemned the attack, stating the school was "bombed in broad daylight, when packed with young pupils." He vowed, "These crimes against the Iranian people will not go unanswered."
Regional Militia Involvement and Civilian Impact
On Monday, the conflict intensified as Iran and allied militias fired missiles at Israel and various Arab states. In Kuwait City, an Egyptian worker residing near the US embassy reported seeing smoke rising over the neighbourhood, though it remained unclear if the embassy itself was hit. American authorities had previously issued warnings to citizens in the area to seek shelter and remain indoors, advising, "Do not come to the embassy." This alert followed attempts by pro-Iranian protesters to storm US diplomatic compounds in Pakistan and Iraq.
In Iraq, a pro-Iranian militia claimed responsibility for a drone attack targeting US troops at Baghdad airport, occurring a day after it reported firing on a US military base in Irbil. Simultaneously, Cyprus confirmed a drone attack aimed at a British base on the Mediterranean island. The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah announced it had launched missiles into Israel early Monday in response to Khamenei's killing and "repeated Israeli aggressions." This marked the group's first claimed attack in over a year, with Israel intercepting one projectile while others landed in open areas, causing no reported injuries or damage.
Retaliatory Strikes and International Reactions
Israel retaliated with airstrikes on Lebanon, resulting in at least 31 fatalities and 149 injuries, according to the Lebanese health ministry. Nearly two-thirds of the casualties occurred in southern regions along the Israeli border. Hezbollah had agreed to a ceasefire with Israel in late 2024, but Israeli forces have allegedly violated it routinely since then.
Gulf Arab states have warned of retaliation against Iran after strikes hit key sites and killed at least five civilians. Former President Trump pledged that Washington would "avenge" the deaths of three US soldiers killed in Kuwait, remarking, "Sadly, there will likely be more before it ends. That's the way it is." While Mr Trump urged Iranians to "take over" their government and indicated openness to dialogue with new leadership post-Khamenei, he affirmed that military operations would persist. "Combat operations continue at this time in full-force and they will continue until all of our objectives are achieved," he stated in a video message, adding, "We have very strong objectives," without further elaboration.
