PM Netanyahu: No interest in talks with Iran; Trump confirms Iran asks for US intervention to stop Israeli attacks

U.S. President Trump on Monday confirmed reports that Iran had reached out to the U.S. to stop Israel’s attacks – however, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flatly rejected any chance for negotiations at the moment.

On the fourth day of Israel’s war against the Iranian regime, Trump was asked by reporters whether Iran had indeed reached out through mediators with a request to stop the Israeli strikes.

“Yes… They’d like to talk. But they should have done that before. I had 60 days, and they had 60 days. On the 61st day, I said, We don’t have a deal,” Trump said.

.@POTUS: "I'd say Iran is not winning this war. They should talk — and they should talk immediately before it's too late." pic.twitter.com/GxtFTdjZgr

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 16, 2025

“They have to make a deal, and it’s painful for both parties, but I’d say Iran is not winning this war, and they should talk, and they should talk immediately, before it’s too late,” he added.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu said in an interview with ABC News that he was not interested in negotiations with Iran at the moment.

Israeli officials also told Channel 12 that they had not been informed that Iran wants to return to the negotiating table.

While railing against Prime Minister Netanyahu in a post on 𝕏, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, hinted at the regime’s desire to return to talks.

After calling Netanyahu “a con man who has duped successive U.S. Presidents into fighting his own wars,” he added, “If President Trump is genuine about diplomacy and interested in stopping this war, next steps are consequential.”

“Israel must halt its aggression, and absent a total cessation of military aggression against us, our responses will continue. It takes one phone call from Washington to muzzle someone like Netanyahu. That may pave the way for a return to diplomacy.”

Benjamin Netanyahu is a wanted war criminal. He is also a con man who has duped successive U.S. Presidents into fighting his own wars for almost three decades.

By all indications, the purpose of Netanyahu's criminal attack on Iran—killing hundreds of innocent civilians,… pic.twitter.com/d1p6ZmSEEg

— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) June 16, 2025

Earlier on Monday, the Wall Street Journal had reported that Iran had reached out to the U.S. through mediators, asking the Trump administration to rein in the Israelis.

In return, it offered to resume nuclear talks. However, intermediaries from Arab countries told the WSJ that there was no indication the regime was ready to make concessions in the talks.

The report cited Middle Eastern and European officials. The regime is said to have offered a return to the negotiating table as long as the U.S. won’t actively join the attacks on its country, while conveying messages to Israel that both sides do not have any interest in escalating the conflict further.

According to Kan News, an informed Arab diplomat said that Qatar and Oman have been preparing the ground for the resumption of negotiations between the U.S. and Iran.

He added that the U.S. is signaling that it isn’t interested in joining the war on Israel’s side, but would respond strongly if its interests were harmed.

“The Iranians know the U.S. is supporting Israel in its defense, and they are sure the U.S. is supporting Israel logistically,” an Arab official told WSJ. “But they want guarantees the U.S. won’t join the attacks.”

An Arab diplomat said that the Iranian regime seems to estimate that Israel doesn’t want the war to continue for a long time, needs substantial American help to damage nuclear sites like the fortified underground facility in Fordow, and lacks an exit strategy.

Therefore, Israel will be forced to seek a diplomatic resolution in the end, the Iranians estimate, according to the Arab diplomat.

Without negotiations, Iran signaled it could accelerate its nuclear program and expand the war to involve more parties, possibly the Gulf countries and U.S. bases in the region. Unconfirmed reports also suggested Iran could consider closing the Hormuz Strait.

Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman, have reportedly been asking the U.S. to restrain Israel in fear of becoming involved in the conflict, which could threaten global oil markets.

The oil prices have already responded to the reports that Iran is seeking a ceasefire, falling over $2 per barrel on Monday, as concerns that crude oil supplies from the Middle East would be impacted were slightly eased for a time.