'Too late': Trump dismisses negotiations to stop Iran war
Donald Trump (photo: Getty Images)
The US President's administration has rejected proposals from Middle Eastern allies to begin diplomatic negotiations aimed at ending the war in Iran. Washington intends to continue the military campaign to weaken Tehran as much as possible, Reuters reports.
White House stance
According to the report, a senior US administration official confirmed that Trump currently sees no point in entering negotiations. The priority, he said, remains the destruction of the Islamic Republic's military potential.
"He's not interested in that right now, and we're going to continue with the mission unabated. Maybe there's a day, but not right now," the White House official said.
Earlier, Donald Trump hinted on social media that Iran's leadership was allegedly seeking negotiations after suffering heavy losses, but concluded that it was already "too late" for talks.
Iran's response, mediation efforts
Oman and Egypt attempted to act as mediators to halt the escalation, which has already led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and a surge in oil prices. However, Tehran has also shown little willingness to compromise.
"Whatever was communicated previously through the diplomatic channels is irrelevant now," a senior Iranian source said.
Representatives of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) insist on continuing hostilities, viewing control of the Strait of Hormuz as a decisive factor in the conflict.
Escalation consequences
More than 2,000 people have been killed during two weeks of fighting, most of them inside Iran.
The war has triggered the largest disruption to oil supplies in history, as roughly one-fifth of global crude exports pass through the now-blocked Strait of Hormuz.
The United States continues to increase pressure by striking key infrastructure targets, including an oil terminal on Kharg Island.
Iran war: What we know
A large-scale US-Israeli military operation against Iran began two weeks ago. Donald Trump officially declared that the goal is the complete destruction of Tehran's military capabilities, including its missile and nuclear programs.
Despite the tough rhetoric, the US president's administration previously said it intends to end the active phase of the war within a short timeframe to minimize the impact on the global economy. Experts are currently considering three possible scenarios—from a "grand deal" on Washington's terms to a prolonged war of attrition.
Analysts are also debating whether the operation will ultimately be seen as a success for the White House, given the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and rising energy prices, which are already affecting domestic stability in the United States.
