The Trump administration has declined attempts by several Middle Eastern governments to open ceasefire negotiations with Iran, according to sources cited in a new Reuters report on Saturday.

Officials from countries in the region, including Oman and Egypt, have explored ways to bring Washington and Tehran to the negotiating table in hopes of pausing the fighting. 

U.S. officials have signaled that the White House is not currently interested in pursuing ceasefire talks and instead intends to continue military operations against Iranian targets, the sources in the report said.

The conflict escalated earlier this month after U.S. and Israeli forces launched coordinated strikes against Iranian military facilities and infrastructure. Since then, fighting has intensified across the region as both sides trade attacks.

A senior administration official said Washington’s immediate focus is on weakening Iran’s military capabilities rather than negotiating a pause in the hostilities. 

Tehran has also pushed back on ceasefire proposals, saying they would only consider negotiations if U.S. and Israeli military strikes were to stop first.