Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Iran has refused to open ceasefire negotiations with Israel. According to an official familiar with the diplomatic communications, Tehran has told mediators Qatar and Oman that negotiations can only be held after Iran responds to Israel's attacks.

"Iran told mediators Qatar and Oman that it would only enter into serious negotiations after Iran completes its response to Israel's preemptive strike," the official told Reuters on Sunday (15/6/2025), on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.

The official stressed that Iran was not willing to open peace talks while still under military pressure."They will not negotiate while under attack," he said.

Israel is known to have launched a surprise airstrike on Friday morning (6/13/2025) targeting Iran's military command and its nuclear facilities. The Israeli government stated that this military operation will continue to be intensified in the coming days.

In response, Iran vowed to retaliate strongly and called Israel's actions the biggest confrontation in the history of relations between the two countries. Iran even threatened to"open the gates of hell" in retaliation.

The statement also dismissed media reports that Iran had asked Qatar and Oman for help in engaging the United States in brokering a ceasefire and reopening nuclear talks."The reports are inaccurate," the same official said.

For information, Oman and Qatar have long been known as diplomatic bridges between Iran and the United States. Both have mediated a number of negotiations, including a prisoner exchange between Iran and the US in 2023. Oman has also facilitated nuclear talks, although the last round was canceled after Israel began a massive airstrike.