Live updates: Iranian source says US initiated ‘outreach’ to end war, as Israel and Tehran continue to trade strikes
U.S. initiated back-channel outreach to curb Israel-Iran strikes, Tehran source says, as cross-border fire persists.
Image: GlobalBeat / 2026
US initiates Iran war outreach as Israel and Tehran trade strikes
Washington reached out to Tehran to end the Israel-Iran conflict as both sides exchanged fresh missile attacks overnight.
An unnamed Iranian source confirmed the US contact. The outreach came during sustained aerial strikes between Israel and Iran that continued into Tuesday.
US officials have not acknowledged the diplomatic move. Washington previously urged restraint while defending Israel’s right to respond to Iranian aggression.
The reported US approach marked the first confirmed direct contact between Washington and Tehran since Iran launched its October 1 missile barrage against Israel.
Israeli fighter jets struck multiple Iranian military sites in Syria late Monday. The attack killed 4 Iranian Revolutionary Guard personnel near Damascus, Syrian state media reported.
Iran responded with a drone assault on Israeli positions in the Golan Heights early Tuesday. The Israeli military said it intercepted all incoming projectiles.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned Israel against further escalation. “The resistance front retains full capability to respond,” Araghchi told state television.
President Joe Biden dispatched special envoy Amos Hochstein to Jerusalem. Hochstein met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss “containment strategies,” the White House said.
The exchanges intensified following Iran’s October 1 attack. Tehran fired 181 ballistic missiles at Israeli military bases, the Israeli military confirmed.
Israel’s October 26 retaliation targeted Iranian air defense systems. The strikes damaged facilities at several Iranian military airports, satellite imagery showed.
Oil prices rose 3.2% to $76.40 per barrel on Tuesday. The increase reflected concerns about potential disruptions to Middle East shipping routes.
Major airlines extended flight cancellations over Iranian airspace. Lufthansa, Air France and British Airways suspended Tehran routes through November 2024.
The UN Security Council scheduled an emergency session for Wednesday. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres demanded “immediate de-escalation by all parties.”
Israel has prepared additional military options. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told troops the country “maintains full freedom of action” against Iranian targets.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei addressed the situation. “We will not initiate wider conflict but stand ready to defend Iranian interests,” Khamenei said, according to state media.
Background
Iran and Israel have fought a shadow war across the Middle East since 2010. The conflict expanded beyond Syria into maritime attacks and cyber operations.
Tehran’s nuclear program drove the confrontation. Israel opposes any Iranian atomic development while Iran insists its program remains peaceful.
What’s Next
Israeli officials will brief visiting US envoy Hochstein on Wednesday. The meeting could determine whether Jerusalem launches further strikes against Iranian targets.