Ali Larijani, a senior adviser to the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, refuted claims that Iran had proposed resuming talks with the U.S. through Omani intermediaries. On March 1, he posted on X, "We will not negotiate with the United States."

His statement came in direct response to a Wall Street Journal report, cited by Al Jazeera, that Larijani had initiated contact with Washington via Omani mediators to resume talks, The Caspian Post reports, citing bne IntelliNews.

In a separate two-part post on X, Larijani accused US President Donald Trump of plunging the region into chaos through "delusional aspirations" and said Trump had turned his own slogan of "America First" into "Israel First," sacrificing American soldiers for Israeli ambitions.

"He is now worried about further American casualties," Larijani wrote. "With new fabrications, he is once again imposing the cost of his personality cult on American soldiers and families."

Larijani said Iran's armed forces "did not initiate the aggression" and that the Iranian nation was engaged in self-defence.

Larijani has been widely reported as a key figure in Iran's crisis management following Khamenei's death in the joint US-Israeli strikes on February 28.

The New York Times had earlier reported that Khamenei placed Larijani in a central role in succession and emergency planning in the event of his death.

Trump said US combat operations in Iran are continuing “in full force” as part of what he calls “Operation Epic Fury,” describing it as one of the largest military offensives ever launched.

He said “hundreds” of targets inside Iran, including Islamic Revolutionary Guard facilities and air defence systems, have been struck and warned that the campaign will continue “until all of our objectives are achieved.”