TEHRAN, IRAN March 2, 2026 (Life News Agency) – Iran’s top national security official has delivered a blunt rejection of any negotiations with Washington, dashing hopes of de-escalation even as US and Israeli strikes continue and Iran hits back across the Gulf.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) at approximately 04:50 GMT today, Ali Larijani — Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council — directly addressed and dismissed media reports claiming Tehran had quietly pushed for a return to nuclear talks via Omani mediators.
“We will not negotiate with the United States,”** Larijani wrote.
The statement comes just days after US and Israeli forces carried out devastating strikes on Iranian targets that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and as many as 40 senior officials, according to Iranian and regional sources. US President Donald Trump has publicly vowed that attacks will continue “until all objectives are met.”
Iran has responded with retaliatory strikes on US-linked targets in Bahrain, the UAE, Iraq and Kuwait. One person was reported killed in Bahrain, while air raid sirens sounded in Kuwait and Iraq.
The conflict has spilled further into Lebanon, where Israel launched fresh airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs and other areas after Hezbollah fired rockets in solidarity with Iran following Khamenei’s death. Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been forced to flee their homes.
Oil prices jumped nearly 5% this morning, with Brent crude reaching around $76.48 a barrel amid fears of wider disruption to energy supplies.
Larijani’s comments specifically countered a Wall Street Journal report — cited by Al Jazeera — suggesting Iran was open to renewed dialogue. He described the claim as false and reaffirmed Iran’s position that it is now focused solely on self-defence.
The development marks a sharp setback for any immediate diplomatic off-ramp. Trump had earlier signalled openness to talks with Iran’s new leadership, but Larijani’s rejection leaves the region on a dangerous trajectory.
Live updates and video footage of the unfolding crisis are available on Al Jazeera’s dedicated live blog.
Life News Agency will continue monitoring this rapidly developing story.
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