Tehran Rejects Negotiations as Trump Vows Continued Strikes and Casualties Mount

Tensions in the Middle East reached a new fever pitch on Monday as Iran officially dismissed reports of renewed nuclear negotiations, while President Donald Trump warned that US military operations would intensify until all objectives are met.

Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s National Security Council, flatly denied US media claims of a fresh diplomatic push from Tehran. 

Highlighting that Iran’s armed forces did not initiate the current hostilities, Larijani stated that the country remains in a defensive posture and will not negotiate with Washington under present conditions. 

This sentiment was echoed by an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, who told Al Jazeera that previous diplomatic efforts in 2025 and more recent engagements were undermined by ongoing US-Israeli strikes.

On the ground, the conflict has turned increasingly lethal. Israel reported strikes targeting the "heart of Tehran," with state media confirming at least 20 deaths in Niloofar Square and significant damage to Gandhi Hospital and a police facility. 

Simultaneously, Israeli assaults in Lebanon have claimed over 30 lives following a Hezbollah rocket barrage on northern Israel. 

In retaliation, Iranian strikes hit Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Beit Shemesh, resulting in at least nine fatalities in central Israel.

In Washington, President Trump remained defiant, vowing to avenge the deaths of three American soldiers recently killed in action. 

He warned that US attacks on Iranian targets will persist until "all objectives are achieved," signaling no immediate end to the military campaign.

The instability has rapidly rippled across the Gulf. Iran has continued its strikes on US assets in the region, with one person reported killed in Bahrain. 

Additionally, Iraq and Kuwait have reported Iranian raids following the high-profile killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and approximately 40 senior officials.

As both sides dig in, the prospect of a diplomatic off-ramp appears increasingly remote.

With Inupts from UNB