Iran opposes the United States’ demand to hold direct talks regarding Tehran’s nuclear program, Reuters reported, citing a senior official who requested anonymity. According to him, Tehran refuses to succumb to pressure from the U.S. president, and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ordered the armed forces into a heightened state of readiness.
The same official noted that the U.S. president had earlier stated that refusal to negotiate could lead to airstrikes, which Tehran views as blackmail.
Iranian authorities also warned neighboring countries hosting U.S. military bases that they could become targets if hostilities begin.
According to the Reuters source, despite rejecting President Donald Trump’s demand for direct dialogue, Iran intends to continue indirect negotiations through Oman’s mediation. The country has long served as a communication channel between Tehran and Washington. This route may prove difficult, but indirect talks could begin soon if the U.S. supports the initiative.
Iran has already sent warnings to Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey, and Bahrain. The message stressed that any support for a U.S. attack, including allowing the use of their airspace or territory, would be treated as an act of aggression.
The Iranian official also said the order to raise the military’s alert level came directly from Ayatollah Khamenei.
Analysts note that the U.S. president’s threats of military action against Iran have further heightened tensions in a region already grappling with war between Israel and Hamas, Hezbollah operations, strikes in Yemen, and a leadership change in Syria.
Fears of an escalating regional conflict have alarmed Persian Gulf countries, which account for a significant share of global oil supply.
Governments in Iraq, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain have not yet responded to media requests for comment. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry stated it had no knowledge of any warnings.
Iranian state media reported on Wednesday that Kuwait assured Tehran it would not allow its territory to be used for any hostile actions.
Iran’s ally Russia said that U.S. threats of military strikes against the Islamic Republic were unacceptable and called for restraint. According to the Iranian official, Tehran is seeking stronger support from Moscow, though this depends on the dynamics of relations between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
U.S. President Donald Trump recently said he would prefer a deal with Iran over military confrontation regarding Tehran’s nuclear program. On March 7, he stated that he had written to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei proposing negotiations.
According to a senior Iranian official, the initial stage of indirect dialogue may involve Omani mediators shuttling between the Iranian and U.S. delegations. Khamenei has authorized Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi or his deputy, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, to participate in any talks that may take place in Muscat.
A representative of the Omani government has not yet responded to requests for comment. However, the official believes there is roughly a two-month window to reach an agreement, citing concerns that Israel, a longtime adversary of Iran, may strike if talks stall — potentially triggering the removal of all international sanctions on Iran.
Iran has long denied any intention to develop nuclear weapons. Nevertheless, the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog has warned that Iran has sharply accelerated uranium enrichment to 60%, nearing the weapons-grade level of 90%.
Western countries argue that such high-level enrichment has no justification within a civilian nuclear program and that no other nation has pursued it for purposes other than building a bomb.
On Monday, Emir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ aerospace forces, stated that U.S. military bases in the region could become targets if hostilities erupt.
It is worth recalling that in 2020, Iran launched strikes on U.S. bases in Iraq after Qasem Soleimani, then commander of the IRGC’s Quds Force, was killed by a U.S. missile strike in Baghdad.
