Tehran, March 4, 2026: Operatives from Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence have signalled openness to talks with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) on ending the ongoing war with the United States and Israel, according to a report published Wednesday by The New York Times.
The newspaper, citing Middle Eastern and Western officials briefed on the matter, reported that the offer was conveyed through the intelligence service of an unnamed third country. Officials spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the diplomatic contacts.
The White House and the CIA did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the reported backchannel communication.
However, officials in Washington were described as sceptical about whether either Tehran or the administration of President Donald Trump is prepared for a genuine “off-ramp” from the escalating conflict, at least in the near term.
The report comes amid intensifying hostilities following joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran that began over the weekend. Publicly, Iranian officials have maintained a hardline stance. Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva on Tuesday ruled out any immediate negotiations with Washington.
President Trump, speaking a day earlier, said Tehran had expressed interest in talks but asserted that “it was too late,” as US military operations against Iranian targets continued.
The apparent discrepancy between public rhetoric and reported intelligence-level outreach underscores the fluid and uncertain diplomatic landscape, even as military confrontation between the two sides shows no immediate sign of abating.
