Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday that recent talks between Iran and the United States marked "a step forward," stressing that dialogue remains Tehran's strategic choice for resolving disputes through peaceful means.

Pezeshkian reaffirmed that Iran's position on the nuclear issue is firmly grounded in rights clearly enshrined in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), stressing that Tehran's stance is both legal and principled.

The Iranian president added that the Iranian people "respond to respect with respect but do not accept the language of force."

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, meanwhile, struck a firm tone, saying uranium enrichment is Iran's legitimate right, and that U.S. military pressure would not intimidate the country.

Speaking at a national conference on Sunday, Araghchi said Iran has already "paid a very heavy price" for its peaceful nuclear program and would not retreat now.

"Enrichment was meant to prove that Iran does not take orders from anyone. If anyone has questions, we will address them – the path is diplomacy," Araghchi pointed out.

Iran will never surrender the right to enrich uranium, even if war "is imposed on us," the foreign minister added.

"Iran is not pursuing an atomic bomb," Araghchi reiterated, adding that the country's strength lies in its ability to say "no to the powers."

"They know there is no choice but negotiation. I told the American team that they had tried other methods. Negotiation will only succeed when Iran's rights are acknowledged," the Iranian foreign minister said, pointing out that the country is not intimidated by the U.S. naval deployment in the Gulf.

"Their military deployment in the region does not scare us," Araghchi noted after U.S. Presidential Special Envoy Steve Witkoff visited the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln stationed in the region.

"We are people of diplomacy, we are people of war – not in the sense that we seek war, but we are prepared for war to defend ourselves against aggression," he added.

Iran and the U.S. held indirect negotiations on Friday in Muscat, the capital of Oman. On the same day, U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington would hold another round of talks with Iran early next week, reiterating that Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons.

'Necessary seriousness'

At a press conference in Tehran later on Sunday, Araghchi said that indirect talks will continue if Iran comes to the conclusion that the U.S. has the "necessary seriousness" to reach a negotiated solution to Tehran's nuclear issue.

He noted that there are signs suggesting the United States has the seriousness, while other indications that undermine its determination are also seen.

He stressed that the continuation of sanctions against Iran and certain military movements in the West Asia region raises doubts about the other side's level of seriousness and readiness.

Araghchi said that Iran will monitor and evaluate all the signs in tandem, emphasizing that the indirect talks with the U.S. pose no obstacle to achieving an agreement.

However, Araghchi said the real obstacles lie in the substance of the talks, including what he described as excessive and unrealistic U.S. demands and unreasonable claims. He added that an agreement would be possible if the U.S. adopts a respectful and fair approach based on safeguarding mutual interests.

He added that Iran's missile program has never been, and will not be, on the agenda of the talks with the United States, stressing that the sole focus remains the country's nuclear program.

Also on Sunday, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Abdolrahim Mousavi said that the country is not interested in the outbreak of a regional war but is fully prepared for such a scenario, IRNA reported.