Black smoke in Tehran, the capital of Iran [Tehran AFP=Yonhap News]

The day after the United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran, Iranian intelligence authorities have indirectly reached out to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) through a third country, proposing to discuss conditions for ending the conflict, The New York Times (NYT) reported on the 4th (local time), citing anonymous Middle Eastern and Western officials who have been briefed on the matter.

However, U.S. officials remain skeptical, at least in the short term, that the Donald Trump administration or Iran is ready to find an exit to end the conflict, according to officials briefed on the matter.

The White House and Iranian officials did not respond to requests for comment on the report, and the CIA also declined to comment, the NYT reported.

Meanwhile, Iran has strongly denied reports of back-channel negotiations with the U.S. circulating on some media and social media.

Earlier, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, who holds military and security authority, was attempting to negotiate with the U.S. through Omani mediation shortly after the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

In response, Secretary Larijani posted on X (formerly Twitter) on the 2nd, denying the WSJ report and stating, "We will not negotiate with the United States."

Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council [Reuters=Yonhap News]

Mohammad Mokhber, considered a close confidant of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, also appeared on Iranian state television on the 4th, stating, "Iran has no contact of any kind with the United States" and that "there will be no negotiations with the U.S. government (in the future)."

Abbas Araghchi, Iran's Foreign Minister, also tweeted on X the same day, stating, "Unrealistic expectations are not met when complex nuclear negotiations are treated like real estate deals and big lies cover the truth. The result? A bombing of the negotiating table with resentment. Mr. Trump has betrayed diplomacy and the Americans who elected him."

President Trump has also expressed skepticism about negotiations with Iran.

In a post on Truth Social the previous day, President Trump wrote, "Their air defense, air force, navy, and leadership are all gone. They want to talk. I said, 'Too late.'"

The NYT commented, "As the attacks continue, the leadership confusion within Iran and Iran's attempts at back-channel contact highlight the key challenge President Trump faces in deciding what kind of Iranian government he will shape or at what level he will conclude it."

U.S. President Trump in the Oval Office [Reuters Yonhap News]