In comments at a meeting with entrepreneurs from the province of Yazd on Friday, Aref said, “We also negotiated with the United States, but they attacked our country in the midst of the talks. We favor dialogue, but we will not surrender to excessive demands. Our people also will not accept us giving in to such demands.”

“The US says that Iran must accept its conditions before negotiations can begin, but we do not accept such an approach to talks,” the vice president added.

Taking a swipe at the US for pretending to support human rights and dialogue, Aref said the US carried out military attacks during negotiations to make Iran surrender. “Yet, the (Iranian) people took to the field and proved that they will never give in.”

Last week, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said while there is no request or plan to hold talks with the US or Europe, Iran remains open to reviewing any fair, balanced, and rational proposal made on the basis of mutual respect and equality that safeguards the interests of the Iranian people.