Iranian intelligence operatives have signaled a willingness to engage in talks with the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) regarding a potential end to the ongoing conflict, according to reports surfacing Wednesday. The overture comes as Israeli strikes continue to disrupt Iran’s leadership structure, complicating efforts to identify a clear authority capable of negotiating a ceasefire.
The contact between Iranian officials and the CIA was initiated as the situation within Iran deteriorated following continued Israeli military actions, Reuters reported. U.S. President Donald Trump, however, has indicated that any possibility of negotiations is now off the table, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The development unfolds against a backdrop of escalating military operations. The bombing of Iran began on February 28, 2026, with the Trump administration initially offering limited public explanation of its objectives. Questions remain regarding whether the attacks are intended to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program – previously described by Trump as “obliterated” following a bombing last June – or to impede its ballistic missile development. U.S. Intelligence assessments suggest Iran remains years away from possessing ballistic missiles capable of reaching the United States.
The CIA is simultaneously working to arm Kurdish forces in Iraq with the aim of inciting an uprising within Iran, CNN reported. The agency has been in discussions with Iranian opposition groups and Kurdish leaders about providing military support, with several Kurdish armed groups already hinting at imminent action and urging defections from the Iranian military. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has responded by targeting Kurdish groups with drone strikes.
President Trump reportedly spoke with Mustafa Hijri, president of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (KDPI), on Tuesday, a group recently targeted by the IRGC. Iranian Kurdish opposition forces are preparing for a ground operation in Western Iran in the coming days, anticipating support from the U.S. And Israel.
The current situation echoes historical U.S. Involvement in Iran, including a covert campaign in the mid-20th century that contributed to anti-American sentiment within the country, according to analysis from The Conversation. That earlier intervention, a joint U.S. And British effort, ultimately shaped decades of Iranian foreign policy.
The New York Times reported earlier this week that Israel, utilizing U.S. Intelligence, executed a targeted killing of a senior Iranian leader on March 1, 2026. This operation had been planned for months, relying on intelligence pinpointing the location of Iranian leaders.
Financial markets reacted to the reports of potential talks, with Dow Jones experiencing a cautious rebound and energy prices showing signs of stabilization. The price of gas fell sharply, dropping 25% in a matter of hours, while crude oil too saw a decline, according to reports from multiple financial news outlets.
