Iran will survive even if there are no talks with the United States and more sanctions are applied, President Masoud Pezeshkian said today, according to state media, after United States (US) President Donald Trump said weekend negotiations with Tehran were “very good”.

“It’s not like we will die of hunger if they refuse to negotiate with us or impose sanctions. We will find a way to survive,” Pezeshkian said, referring to the talks over Iran’s nuclear programme.

Iran will not consider temporarily suspending uranium enrichment to secure a nuclear deal with the US, a foreign ministry spokesperson said, adding that no date had yet been set for a sixth round of talks with Washington.

The negotiations between Washington and Tehran aim to resolve a decades-long dispute over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and both sides have taken a tough stance in public over the issue of Iran’s uranium enrichment.

Asked about reports that Iran could freeze enrichment for three years to reach an agreement, spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told a press conference: “Iran will never accept that.”

Iran is waiting for further details from mediator Oman regarding the timing of the next round of talks, Baghaei said.

“If there is goodwill from the American side, we are also optimistic, but if talks are aimed at curbing Iran’s rights, then talks will get nowhere,” he added.