“FLAMES OF WAR”
The war began on Feb 28 with US-Israeli strikes on Iran. The Islamic republic swiftly responded with attacks on American assets in countries around the region.
Fresh diplomatic efforts are underway to avert any resumption of fighting, with Qatari mediators landing in Tehran on Friday, and US Vice President JD Vance sending a letter to Iran’s security chief Mohsen Rezaei.
“I read the letter. I haven’t yet responded. Their tone has completely changed,” Rezaei, head of Iran’s supreme national security council, said in a video broadcast on Iranian television.
He said the change in tone was “a good sign”, though he declined to comment further on its contents.
But Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that “currently, there are no plans for meetings with American officials”.
“Iran’s conditions are clear, and consultations regarding them are ongoing among mediators,” he said in an interview with Al Jazeera, according to the state news agency IRNA.
Qatar and Pakistan have been mediating between the warring parties, but the talks have yet to produce a lasting agreement.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that Vance had sent his letter to Iran’s security chief at Trump’s direction in a bid to revive negotiations and avert further US strikes.
The Iranian side kept firm its warnings against further attacks Saturday.
Army spokesman Mohammad Akaraminia said any resumption of hostilities would only expand the scope of the war.
“The flames of war will undoubtedly engulf a much wider geographical area,” he said on social media.
Araghchi warned on X there would no longer be any “red lines”.
