Rejecting Washington’s demands for direct talks on its nuclear program, Tehran is instead pushing for indirect negotiations via Oman — a long-standing backchannel between the two adversaries. The unnamed official, speaking to Reuters, said that while Iran will not engage in direct diplomacy under threats of war, it remains open to mediated discussions that could “test the seriousness” of the U.S. position.

“Indirect talks offer a chance to evaluate Washington’s seriousness about a political solution,” the official said, adding that such discussions could begin soon — if the U.S. signals genuine interest.

But alongside the gesture of diplomacy came a warning: Iran has informed six neighboring countries — Iraq, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Turkey, and Bahrain — that any cooperation with a potential U.S. military strike, including allowing American forces to use their airspace or land, would be considered an act of war.

“That would be met with severe consequences,” the official warned, noting that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ordered the nation’s armed forces to a state of high alert.

A top commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Amirali Hajizadeh, also warned the world of Iran’s reach. He implied that American bases throughout the Middle East could become targets in the event of war — an echo of the 2020 missile barrage on U.S. forces in Iraq after the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani.

The messages have rattled an already volatile region. Following the devastation in Gaza and Lebanon, the ongoing war in Yemen, shifting power dynamics in Syria, and recent Israeli-Iranian clashes, the Gulf is bracing for what many fear could become a wider conflagration. The waterway, which is vital to global oil shipments, lies at the heart of these rising tensions — with Iran on one shore, and a lineup of U.S.-allied monarchies on the other.

Iran’s warnings also come amid renewed threats by President Donald Trump, who has hinted at possible military action should Tehran refuse to curb its nuclear ambitions. Trump announced in March that he had written to Khamenei demanding talks — a proposal now hanging by the fragile thread of Omani mediation.

Khamenei has reportedly authorized Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi or his deputy to attend any such meetings in Muscat.

Iran continues to insist that it has no intention of building a nuclear bomb, but the International Atomic Energy Agency recently reported that Tehran has “dramatically” increased uranium enrichment to 60% — alarmingly close to weapons-grade levels. Western nations argue there is no civilian justification for such enrichment, raising fears of a looming crisis.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)