Iran has told regional mediators Qatar and Oman that it will not consider a ceasefire while Israeli attacks continue, a senior official familiar with the discussions told Reuters on Sunday, as the two rivals exchanged fresh strikes, raising fears of a broader conflict.

“The Iranians made it clear to Qatari and Omani intermediaries that they will only enter serious negotiations after completing their response to Israel’s pre-emptive strikes,” said the official, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.

According to the source, Iran firmly rejected any ceasefire proposal under current conditions. This comes after Israel launched a surprise offensive early Friday that reportedly targeted Iran’s top military leadership and damaged parts of its nuclear infrastructure. Israel has indicated that its campaign will continue to escalate.

In response, Iran has vowed a fierce retaliation, warning it will "open the gates of hell" against Israel in what is shaping up to be their most intense confrontation yet.

The official also dismissed media reports claiming Iran had asked Oman and Qatar to involve the United States in brokering a ceasefire or resuming nuclear negotiations. “Those reports are inaccurate,” the official stated.

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Iran’s foreign ministry, as well as the foreign ministries of Qatar and Oman, did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.

Oman has recently served as a mediator in nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, although the latest round was cancelled following the outbreak of Israel’s latest air assault. Qatar, too, has played a role in facilitating dialogue between the two sides, including mediating a prisoner exchange in 2023.

Both Qatar and Oman maintain diplomatic ties with Iran and the United States and have previously engaged in direct communication with Israel.

Source: With inputs from agency