Iran’s first Vice President Mohammadreza Aref has said the country could engage in direct nuclear negotiations with the United States if the right conditions are in place, but dismissed Washington’s demand to completely abandon uranium enrichment as “a joke.”

Speaking on Tuesday, Aref said Iran is prepared to negotiate on equal terms to protect its national interests and would be willing to hold face-to-face discussions with Washington if circumstances permit.

“Iran is ready for negotiations under equal conditions in order to safeguard its interests ... The Islamic Republic's stance is in the direction that people want and, should there be suitable conditions, we are even ready for direct talks,” he said.

The remarks come after a sixth round of talks between Tehran and Washington, which had been mediated by Oman since April, was suspended in June following Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Washington maintains that uranium enrichment in Iran is a pathway to developing nuclear weapons and should be stopped, an allegation Tehran strongly denies.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday made a strong case for resuming dialogue with the U.S. despite deep-seated mistrust between the two countries.

“You don’t want to talk? Well then, what do you want to do? Do you want to go to war? ... Going to talks does not mean we intend to surrender,” he said, warning that such matters should not be “approached emotionally.”

His comments drew caution from senior Revolutionary Guards commander Aziz Ghazanfari, who on Monday said that foreign policy decisions require careful handling and that rash public statements by officials could have serious consequences for the nation.