Operatives from Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence signaled openness to the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to talks on ending the war, the New York Times reported on Wednesday, citing officials briefed on the matter.
The offer was made through an unnamed country’s spy agency, the newspaper reported, citing Middle Eastern officials and officials from a Western nation who spoke on condition of anonymity.
A source from the Iranian intelligence ministry rejected the report as “absolute lies and psychological warfare in the midst of war,” Iran’s semi-official news agency Tasnim reported on Wednesday.
The White House and the CIA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Officials in Washington are skeptical about whether Iran or the Trump administration is really ready for an “off-ramp” from the conflict, currently in its fifth day, at least in the short term, the report added.
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Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva on Tuesday ruled out for now any negotiations with the United States, days after the US and Israel launched joint strikes on his country.
“For the time being, we are very doubtful about the usefulness of negotiation,” Ali Bahreini told reporters.
Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, holds a press conference at the UN Offices in Geneva on March 3, 2026. (Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)
US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Tehran wanted to talk but it was “too late,” as the United States continued its military operation against Iran.
The US and Iran had held three rounds of talks mediated by Oman in the weeks leading up to the launch of the strikes, amid heavy speculation that a conflict would break out as the US began a buildup of aircraft carriers and other military assets in the region.
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