WASHINGTON, United States — Iran’s top security official has ruled out negotiations with the United States, even as American casualties mount in the escalating conflict known as “Operation Epic Fury.”
Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said on X that Tehran “will not negotiate with the United States,” dismissing reports that Iranian officials were preparing to revive diplomatic talks with Washington. Larijani previously served as an adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The statement comes amid intensifying joint US-Israeli air operations targeting Iranian positions. In a speech announcing the start of the campaign early Saturday, Donald Trump acknowledged the risks facing American forces.
“That often happens in war,” Trump said, referring to the prospect of US casualties.
Hours later, United States Central Command confirmed that three American service members had been killed and five seriously wounded. The Pentagon described the deaths as occurring during active operations.
Casualties and Domestic Stakes
Military analysts say that, in comparative terms, the casualty figures remain limited given the scale of deployment and the tempo of air and ground operations. Combat losses — alongside non-combat fatalities linked to logistics and large-scale troop movements — are often anticipated in such campaigns.
Yet politically, even a small number of American deaths can carry weight.
President Trump has repeatedly contrasted the current operation with the prolonged conflicts of the post-9/11 era, commonly referred to as the Global War on Terror. Those wars saw years of steady casualties that shaped public opinion and electoral politics.
In remarks recorded at his Mar-a-Lago residence and released while Air Force One was en route to Washington, Trump said: “That’s the way it is.” He added earlier in an interview that while casualties were expected, “in the end it’s going to be a great deal for the world.”
The comments appeared unscripted. Political observers note that such language can become a liability if fatalities increase. Historical parallels have already surfaced, including the 2003 “Mission Accomplished” speech by George W. Bush aboard an aircraft carrier during the early phase of the Iraq War — imagery that later drew criticism as the conflict deepened.
Diplomatic Freeze
Larijani’s rejection of talks signals that diplomatic channels remain frozen despite speculation about back-channel engagement. Iranian officials have framed the current campaign as aggression, while Washington describes the strikes as necessary to neutralize security threats.
With negotiations off the table for now, attention shifts to whether the military campaign will expand — and whether casualty figures will climb.
