Iran rules out talk with US

Iranian officials have stressed that for any talks with the US, Washington should return to Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal, from which it withdrew in 2018, and implement its obligation under the accord.

Tehran: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday ruled out the possibility of direct talks with the US over Tehran's nuclear programme, saying that his country is strictly against any such negotiations.

"We have never had any decision, at any time, for direct talks with the United States," Rouhani said in an open session of the Iranian parliament on Tuesday.

"Maybe there has been a misunderstanding. We've said it several times and we repeat it there has been no decision to hold bilateral talks with the US," said Rouhani.

Iran has always given 'negative' response to the negotiation offers with the US.

"However, if the US lifts its sanctions (against Iran), it would be possible for the US to attend the P5+1 talks," he said.

Last week, Rouhani said that the US should lift sanctions against Iran as a precondition for negotiations.

Iranian officials have stressed that for any talks with the US, Washington should return to Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal, from which it withdrew in 2018, and implement its obligation under the accord.

Meanwhile, France has been working hard to calm the situation, with President Emmanuel Macron expressing hope during G7 talks in late August to organise a meeting between Rouhani and Trump.

Back in June, Japan has sought to broker dialogue between Iran and the US with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe travelling to the West Asian country, the first trip there by a sitting prime minister in over four decades.