President Hassan Rouhani told the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Wednesday that Iran would not talk to the United States under pressure, and demanded that Washington "pay more" for any agreement that goes beyond the 2015 nuclear deal.

'No' to talks under pressure

Rouhani appeared to rule out meeting U.S. President Donald Trump while the two are in New York for the annual UNGA, but officials from both sides suggested future negotiation was possible.

How such talks will begin is unclear. Tehran demands that Washington ease sanctions as a prerequisite, but the U.S. "maximum pressure" campaign shows no signs of abating.

Read more:

Trump issues fresh Iran warning

France, UK urge Rouhani to meet Trump

"Our response to talks under pressure is 'No'," Rouhani told the UNGA.

U.S.-Iranian tensions have ratcheted up since Trump withdrew from Iran's nuclear deal with major powers in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on the Islamic Republic's economy.

'If you want more, pay more'

Trump wants a new agreement to go beyond the 2015 deal to further curb Iran's nuclear program, halt its ballistic missile work and end its support for proxy forces in the Middle East.

"If you wish more, if you require more, you should give and pay more," Rouhani said in his UNGA address, without giving details.

In his own speech on Tuesday, Trump accused Iranian leaders of "bloodlust" and called on other nations to put pressure on Iran after September 14 attacks on Saudi oil facilities that Washington blames on Tehran despite its denials.

Rouhani warned the Gulf region is "on the edge of collapse, as a single blunder can fuel a big fire," and vowed to respond "decisively and strongly" to any foreign violation of its security or territorial integrity. The U.S. plans to increase its military presence in Saudi Arabia following the oil field attacks.

'Zero' chance of Rouhani-Trump meeting

French and British leaders have urged Rouhani to sit down with Trump, but an Iranian official told Reuters there was no chance the U.S. and Iranian presidents would meet this week.

"The chances of a meeting are zero. They know what to do," the official said, adding that the U.S. should return to the 2015 deal, lift sanctions and end the maximum pressure campaign.

Trump said in his UNGA speech there was still a path to peace and Rouhani has left the door open to diplomacy, saying that if sanctions were lifted, Washington could join nuclear talks between Tehran and other powers.

(With input from Reuters)