Tehran [Iran], March 2 (ANI): As tensions heighten in West Asia in the wake of Ayatollah Khamenei's killing in Israeli-US strikes on Saturday, Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran on Monday firmly rejected that Iran would not negotiate with the United States.

He made the remarks in response to a news by Al Jazeera Breaking where it reported citing Wall Street Journal that Larijani is set to resume talks with US via Oman as the intermediary.

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Al Jazeera in its post had reported, 'Wall Street Journal on officials: Larijani's initiative to resume talks with Washington submitted through intermediaries from the Sultanate of Oman'

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In another series of sharp rhetoric against the US President, Larijani slammed Trump for plunging the region into chaos and hinted towards a rise in the number of American troop casualities.

He further attacked US for pushing an 'Israel-first' agenda and underlining that Iran did not initiate the aggression.

'With his delusional actions, he turned his self-made 'America First' slogan into 'Israel First' and sacrificed American soldiers for Israel's power-hungry ambitions... 1/2 ...and with new fabrications, it is once again imposing the cost of assassinating its own character on American soldiers and families. Today, the Iranian nation is defending itself. The armed forces of Iran did not initiate the aggression. 2/2'

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Earlier today the IRNA shared that the Provisional Leadership Council of Iran held its second meeting in the presence of Iranian President Masoud Pezekshian, Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei and Ayatollah Alireza Arafi.

Sharing the visuals from the meeting in a post on X on Monday, IRNA said, 'The second meeting of the Provisional Leadership Council was held with the presence of President @drpezeshkian, Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei and Alireza A'rafi.'

https://x.com/IrnaEnglish/status/2028313099191693732?s=20

The second meeting of the Provisional Leadership Council comes after Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei was killed on Saturday in Israel-US strikes as a part of Operation Epic Fury/Roaring Lion.

After Khamenei's killing, Trump again addressed the Iranian public on Saturday, calling for them to topple the government. 'This will probably be your only chance for generations,' he said on Saturday after the US and Israeli attacks on Iran began.

The Provisional Leadership Council was formed shortly after Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei and top security officials were killed in the US and Israel's ongoing attacks.

The interim council, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, will oversee the country until a new supreme leader is elected. Iranian state media say at least 201 people have been killed in the attacks across 24 provinces, as per Al Jazeera. (ANI)