Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has rejected proposals for ​reducing tensions or for a ceasefire with ‌the United States that were conveyed to Tehran by two intermediary countries, a senior Iranian official said on ​Tuesday.

Khamenei's stance for revenge against the U.S. ​and Israel was “very tough and serious” in ⁠his first foreign policy session, the official ​said, without clarifying whether the leader attended the ​session in person.

The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran is in its third week with at least 2,000 people dead and no end ​in sight. The Strait of Hormuz remains ​largely closed off, with U.S. allies rebuffing U.S. President Donald ‌Trump's ⁠request for help to reopen the critical waterway, raising energy prices and fears of inflation.

The senior official, who asked not to be named, said ​the supreme ​leader had ⁠said it was not "the right time for peace until the United States ​and Israel are brought to their ​knees, ⁠accept defeat, and pay compensation”.

Three sources told Reuters on March 14 that Trump's administration has rebuffed ⁠efforts ​by Middle Eastern allies to ​start diplomatic negotiations aimed at ending the Iran war.