US Iran conflict: Iran on Monday has turned down the prospect to carry out negotiations with the United States, and signalled a further hardening of positions, in the thick of the escalating hostilities across West Asia.
Ali Larijani, the head of Tehran’s Supreme National Security Council, announced on his official ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) handle on March 2, 2026, Monday, that Iran “will not negotiate with the United States”. In the post, he also dismissed some reports, which suggested that Iranian officials had sought a renewed dialogue with American President Donald Trump’s administration, following a wave of coordinated strikes by US and Israel over the weekend.
Larijani further accused Trump of plunging the region into chaos with what he had termed “delusional fantasies”, and claimed that Washington now fears a mounting tally of American troop casualties.
[caption id="attachment_425" align="alignnone" width="1173"]
US Iran conflict[/caption]
Gulf strikes rock Energy Markets
Notably, the gulf strikes have rocked the global energy markets. After Iranian drones reportedly targeted Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura refinery, it was shut by the nation. Saudi Arabia’s officials maintained that two drones were intercepted, and Aramco is yet to issue a statement.
Iran claims it targeted Netanyahu’s office
The conflict deepened after US and Israeli missile strikes on Iran drew retaliatory barrages from Tehran across the Gulf. Meanwhile, in the latest development, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed to have carried out a “surprise strike” targeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, though the claims are unverified at present.
[caption id="attachment_426" align="alignnone" width="1004"]
US Iran conflict[/caption]
On the other hand, Iran’s envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency alleged that US-Israeli airstrikes had struck the Natanz Nuclear Facility, a key enrichment site. Washington and Tel Aviv have not confirmed the claims yet.