US-Iran technical talks continue after new strikes in southern Iran
A US official told Al Jazeera that Washington remains engaged with Tehran as local officials reported new attacks in southern Iran.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
2 min read
Technical-level talks between the United States and Iran are continuing even after new strikes hit southern Iran, according to a US official cited by Al Jazeera. The exchanges matter because Washington says it is still seeking a diplomatic path while the conflict has widened across several fronts.
Local officials and Iranian state media reported renewed attacks at several locations in southern Iran, Al Jazeera said. The reported targets included areas near the Bushehr nuclear facility.
A US official told Al Jazeera that American forces were not responsible for the latest strikes. The official also said Washington remained committed to technical discussions with Tehran after three days of escalating military exchanges.
Al Jazeera correspondent Kimberly Halkett, reporting from Washington, said the talks are focused on a broader settlement with Iran. According to the US official cited by the network, Washington wants an agreement that would help end the conflict, restrict Iran’s nuclear programme and protect freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
The reported diplomatic activity follows public comments by US President Donald Trump in Ankara on Wednesday. Al Jazeera said Trump had described the memorandum of understanding as dead, and its recap said he also stated that the truce with Iran was “over”.
The status of talks has drawn attention because the military exchanges have continued while officials discuss possible limits on the conflict. Al Jazeera reported that US officials still view the technical channel as active.
Burial in Mashhad
In Iran, mourners gathered on Thursday in Mashhad for the burial of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Al Jazeera reported. The network said Khamenei was killed on February 28, the first day of the war on Iran, in a joint US-Israeli strike.
A Reuters photograph from Mashhad showed Khamenei’s coffin on the day of the burial, according to Al Jazeera’s caption. Reuters noted in the caption that foreign media in Iran operate under rules set by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, which regulates press permissions and activity.
Other fronts
Al Jazeera also reported that Israeli forces have continued attacks in Gaza and Lebanon. The network did not provide further details in the updates on targets, casualties or damage from those attacks.
The latest reports point to a conflict in which diplomacy and military action are proceeding at the same time. For now, Al Jazeera’s account indicates that the US technical channel with Iran remains open, while strikes in Iran and Israeli operations in Gaza and Lebanon continue.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.