Iran has ruled out immediate negotiations with the United States despite Donald Trump signalling that Washington could be open to renewed discussions. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said Tehran would not return to talks unless its demands were addressed. The rejection comes as Iran’s armed forces prepare for different possible outcomes to the ongoing conflict, ranging from an end to the war to a prolonged or full-scale confrontation.
Why Has Iran Rejected Talks With The US?
Rezaei dismissed Trump’s recent comments as mixed signals and said Iran would not negotiate until its conditions were fulfilled. Trump had said on Monday that he was open to engaging with Tehran, claiming Iran wanted to reach a deal quickly. His comments came after weeks of saying that negotiations were not yet the right option.
Iran has previously demanded several measures before restarting talks, including an end to the US naval blockade and economic sanctions, the release of frozen Iranian assets and a halt to Israeli attacks on Lebanon and Gaza. Tehran has also sought compensation for wartime losses and linked an end to its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz to the resolution of the conflict.
Don’t get distracted by the U.S. president’s mixed signals—from “no negotiations” to “we’re ready to talk.” The stakes around oil and the straits have changed. Damage control won’t stop what’s coming.
No talks until Iran’s conditions are met. Period!— محسن رضایی (@ir_rezaee) September 14, 2026
Iran Prepares For 3 Possible War Outcomes
Separately, Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff has issued a nationwide passive defence directive covering three possible situations:
• End of the war: Planned exercises, training and public programmes would resume fully.
• Ceasefire without a final settlement: Authorities would focus on public preparedness, vigilance against hybrid threats and information security.
• Full-scale war: Large public gatherings and in-person events would be suspended, with priority given to essential services, resource management and operational readiness.
The 10-point directive was issued by Maj. Gen. Ali Abdollahi, chief of staff of Iran’s Armed Forces and chairman of the Permanent Passive Defense Committee.
How Has The Iran-US War Escalated?
The US and Israel launched major strikes on Iran on February 28, targeting government facilities, military sites, missile infrastructure and air-defence systems. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks against Israel and US military positions across the region. The conflict has since widened, while diplomatic efforts have repeatedly attempted to secure an end to the fighting.
Iran and Israel had also fought a 12-day conflict in June 2025, which ended after a US-backed ceasefire.
