The New York Times (NYT) reported that the day after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, Iran's intelligence authorities made indirect, back-channel contact with the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) through a third country and proposed discussing conditions to end the conflict.
The Times reported this, citing anonymous Middle Eastern and Western officials briefed on the matter.
However, the officials said they are at least in the short term skeptical that the U.S. administration of Donald Trump or Iran is ready to find an exit to end the conflict.
The White House and Iranian officials did not respond to requests for comment on the report, and the CIA also declined to comment, the NYT said.
Meanwhile, Iran strongly denied rumors in some media and on social media of back-channel talks with the United States.
Earlier, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that immediately after the death of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ali Larijani, secretary-general of the Supreme National Security Council who holds overarching control of military and security affairs, was attempting negotiations with the United States through Oman's mediation.
In response, Secretary-General Larijani denied the WSJ report on X (formerly Twitter) on the 2nd, writing, "We will not negotiate with the United States."
Mohammad Mokhber, considered a top aide to the late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, also appeared on Iran's state broadcaster on the 4th and said, "Iran does not engage in any form of contact with the United States," adding, "There will be no negotiations with the U.S. government (going forward)."
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also wrote on X the same day, "When complex nuclear negotiations are treated like a real estate transaction and big lies cover the truth, unrealistic expectations are not met," adding, "Trump betrayed diplomacy and the Americans who elected him."
President Trump also hinted at a skeptical view of talks with Iran. In a post on Truth Social the previous day, Trump wrote, "Their air defenses and air force, navy, and leadership are all gone. They want to talk. I said, 'Too late.'"
The New York Times assessed, "As attacks continue, the leadership turmoil in Iran and its attempts at back-channel contact highlight the core challenge facing President Trump as he decides what kind of Iranian government he will shape or at what level he will conclude matters."