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Iran has conveyed to regional mediators Qatar and Oman that it was not interested in the United States brokering a ceasefire until Tehran had completed its retaliation against Israel for its military campaign, Reuters reported citing an informed source.
"The Iranians informed Qatari and Omani mediators that they will only pursue serious negotiations once Iran has completed its response to the Israeli pre-emptive strikes," Reuters quoted the official as saying.
Iranian air defense systems have been activated in Isfahan, Sanandaj, Tabriz, Kermanshah, Ahvaz, and Bandar Anzali, local media reports say.
Some Iranian media outlets also reported hearing explosions in Eslamshahr and Vavan near Tehran.
The state-run IRNA news agency reported a massive explosion in the Shahriar region west of Tehran.
Heavy traffic was seen on major highways leading out of Tehran on Sunday, including roads toward Saveh in the southwest and Mashhad in the east, as residents appeared to flee the capital, according to videos received by Iran International.
One video showed congestion on the Tehran–Saveh road, while another, captured similar scenes on the Tehran–Mashhad route.
The apparent exodus follows reports by Israel’s Channel 14 that the Israeli military has launched a strike plan designed to trigger mass civilian evacuations from Tehran.
According to the report, the operation, approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Katz, involves targeting sites linked to the Iranian government in an effort to apply pressure through psychological and logistical disruption.
Chants of “Death to the Dictator” were heard in the Navvab area of southwestern Tehran on Sunday, as air defense fire echoed in the background, according to a video received by Iran International.
Iran will prevent other countries in the region from using their oil if its own facilities are seriously damaged, in the conflict with Israel, Mohammad-Javad Larijani, a former top advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader said on Sunday.
