Iran rejects Russia's mediation offer for direct talks with U.S.

Iran's Foreign Ministry on Monday ruled out the likelihood of direct negotiations with the United States, reported Xinhua.

Saeed Khatibzadeh, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman, made the remarks after the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov recently expressed readiness for mediation of direct negotiations between Tehran and Washington.

"The course of our policies on the United States has not changed," Khatibzadeh said during his weekly press conference.

On Tuesday, Lavrov proposed to mediate between Iran and the United States. "If both countries are interested, we are ready to hold talks with the two sides to pave the way for the direct talks," Lavrov said in a speech delivered at MGIMO University.

The Iranian President's Chief of Staff Mahmoud Vaezi has also dismissed any intention in Tehran for direct talks with Washington.

The United States "must accept its mistake" for imposing sanctions against Iran and should remove them; besides, Washington must return to the JCPOA, said Vaezi on Friday.