Iran Intelligence Operatives Signaled Openness to Talks With CIA to End War, NYT Reports

Operatives from Iran's Ministry of Intelligence signalled openness to the U.S. Central ​Intelligence Agency (CIA) to talks on ending ‌the war, the New York Times reported on Wednesday, citing officials briefed on the matter.

The ​offer was made through an unnamed ​country's spy agency, the NYT said, ⁠citing Middle Eastern officials and officials ​from a Western nation who spoke on ​condition of anonymity.

The White House and the CIA did not immediately respond to a request for ​comment.

Officials in Washington are sceptical as ​to whether Iran or the Trump administration is ‌really ⁠ready for an "off-ramp", at least in the short term, the report added.

Iran's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva on ​Tuesday ruled out ​for ⁠now any negotiations with the United States, days after the ​U.S. and Israel launched joint strikes ​on ⁠his country.

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Tehran wanted to talk but it ⁠was ​too late, as the ​United States continued its military operation against Iran.