Iran rules out fresh nuclear talks with US as 'waste of time'

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (C) exits after attending a meeting of the parties to the Iran nuclear deal during the 72nd United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York, US, Sept 20, 2017. [Photo/VCG]

TEHRAN - Iran has ruled out talks with the United States on revisiting a 2015 nuclear accord as "waste of time," local media reported on Wednesday.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday ruled out talks with US President Donald Trump's administration on revisiting a 2015 nuclear accord and said Tehran had "various options" if Washington pulls out, IRNA reported.

"An American government that chooses to trample on her legal and legitimate international commitments, a conversation with such a government would be a waste of time," Rouhani told reporters on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said there was no question of reopening negotiations, a day after Trump called the accord an "embarrassment."

Rouhani said that Iran had "various options" including "the removal of obstacles" if the United States pulls out of the agreement.

"Iran has never sought, is not now seeking and will never seek nuclear weapons," he said.

The dispute centers on uranium enrichment, which Iran says is for civilian use but critics led by Israel say is intended to build nuclear weapons.