Tehran rejects attempts to find a diplomatic exit from the war initiated by the United States and Israel, The Washington Post reports.
The publication, citing statements from Iranian and European diplomats, as well as an Arab official, reported that instead of capitulating, Tehran is intensifying attacks on its neighbors.
It is assumed that Iran believes it can exacerbate global economic difficulties faster than the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump can resolve them through military force.
In particular, Iran's unwillingness to capitulate is linked to the power it holds over the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world's fuel supplies pass.
An Iranian diplomat explained that by partially closing the passage through the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran wants to "make this aggression extremely costly for the attackers."
"We are standing alone against the largest military superpower in history," he told the publication.
An Arab official and European diplomats noted that Iranian leaders view their ability to control the strait, as well as to resist the pressure from the U.S. and Israel, as a short-term victory.
"As long as this regime exists, it can sow terror in the region, terrorize international markets with oil and gas prices. Yes, that is their victory. They feel no pressure to negotiate," said one European diplomat working in the Persian Gulf.
According to sources from the publication, officials from Qatar and Oman contacted Iran last week to discuss a possible ceasefire. In their opinion, even overwhelming military force from the U.S. and Israel will not be able to overthrow the Iranian government in the near future.
The article states that Iran has declared it would agree to negotiations if the U.S. and Israel cease their attacks first.
"Iran will not be ready to stop attacks on American interests if Washington does not agree to a number of 'non-aggression' guarantees, including financial compensation for war-related damages," suggested an Iranian diplomat.
One of the European officials, who previously worked in Iran, believes that the series of assassinations of high-ranking Iranian officials has also dampened Tehran's desire to negotiate.
According to him, the assassination of Ali Larijani, who was the secretary of Iran's National Security Council, undermined the prospects for negotiations, as he possessed unique qualities for establishing dialogue with the West.
U.S. War Against Iran: Latest News
Sources from Axios reported that U.S. intelligence, including the CIA, as well as the Israeli service "Mossad," are closely monitoring any signs of activity from Iran's new leader Mojtaba Khamenei. Since he has not yet appeared in public, international intelligence agencies and analysts are questioning whether he is alive. A senior Israeli official noted in an interview with the publication that they have no evidence that he is the one giving orders. At the same time, according to the U.S. and Israel, Mojtaba Khamenei is still alive. U.S. intelligence reports no signs that Khamenei is dead or incapacitated.
We also reported that Iraq war veteran Phil Klay noted in an op-ed for The New York Times that U.S. authorities are providing conflicting explanations regarding the military operation in Iran and are using increasingly aggressive rhetoric. Klay emphasized that American military personnel still do not understand what they are fighting for. The Iraq war veteran stated that administration representatives do not hide their hardline stance. In his opinion, such rhetoric indicates a departure from the traditional American military doctrine, which attempted to combine the use of force with moral justification and long-term political goals.
