Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has rejected proposals to reduce tensions or a ceasefire with the United States conveyed to Tehran by two intermediary countries, a senior Iranian official quoted by "Reuters" said.
Khamenei's position on retaliation against the United States and Israel was "very firm and serious" in his first foreign policy meeting, the official said, without specifying whether the leader was present in person.
The US-Israeli war against Iran is in its third week, with at least 2,000 dead and no end in sight. The Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed. US allies have rejected President Donald Trump's plea for help to reopen the key waterway, raising energy prices and raising inflation fears.
The senior official said the supreme leader had said it was not "the right time for peace until the United States and Israel are brought to their knees, accept defeat and pay reparations."
Three sources said on March 14 that the Trump administration had rejected efforts by Middle East allies to begin diplomatic talks aimed at ending the war with Iran.