(MENAFN) Iran’s government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani announced Wednesday that the United States rejected Iran’s recent bid for direct negotiations during the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, according to an Iranian news agency.

Speaking on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting, Mohajerani revealed that the Iranian delegation had requested a meeting with U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff. The proposed talks were to include foreign ministers from France, Britain, and Germany—the E3—as well as a representative from the International Atomic Energy Agency. However, Witkoff did not participate in any joint session.

Mohajerani emphasized that Iran has maintained ongoing direct and indirect dialogue with the United States, but she accused Washington of imposing unreasonable demands and not fulfilling its commitments, despite Iran’s attempts to address its nuclear concerns and prevent the return of UN sanctions.

Iran even offered a 45-day postponement of the snapback mechanism in the final moments of negotiations, which was dismissed by other parties under pressure from Israel. She condemned the other sides’ commitment to negotiation as "mere lies."

In August, the E3 formally triggered the "snapback" process, enabling the reimposition of UN sanctions within 30 days if Iran violated the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

On Sept. 19, the UN Security Council failed to pass a resolution extending sanctions relief for Iran under the JCPOA. A follow-up resolution aiming to grant a six-month extension to the JCPOA and UN Resolution 2231 also failed in the UNSC on Friday. The sanctions were reinstated Saturday evening.

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