The discussions and proposals made by the European powers to Iran over its nuclear program in Geneva were unrealistic, and insisting on them will not bring both sides closer to an agreement, a senior Iranian official told Reuters.
"In any case, Iran will review the European proposals in Tehran and present its responses in the next meeting," the official said.
He added that zero enrichment was a dead end and that Iran would not negotiate over its defensive capabilities, including its missile program.
"The discussions and proposals made by the Europeans in Geneva were unrealistic. Insisting on these positions will not bring Iran and Europe closer to an agreement," the senior official told Reuters, while speaking on condition of anonymity.
Both sides signaled on Friday their readiness to keep talking, although no new date was set.
Europe tries to negotiate with Iran
European diplomats said Friday's talks had been aimed at testing Tehran's willingness to negotiate a new nuclear deal despite there being no obvious prospect of Israel halting its attacks soon.
While neither side disclosed details of what was put forward, two European diplomats said the E3 did not believe that Israel would accept a ceasefire in the near term and that it would be difficult for Iran and the US to resume negotiations.
They said the idea was to begin a parallel negotiating track, initially without the US, on a new deal that would involve tougher inspections, including potentially of Iran's ballistic missile program, while allowing Tehran some notional uranium enrichment capacity.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday spoke with his Iranian counterpart and said the two sides had agreed to accelerate negotiations, although he insisted it was up to Iran "to provide every assurance that its intentions are peaceful."
Despite some European ministers suggesting on Friday that Iran was more ready to talk about issues beyond the nuclear program, the senior official dismissed the possibility of negotiating its defensive capabilities, including its missile program, and repeated that the idea of zero enrichment of uranium was a dead end.
"Iran welcomes diplomacy but not under the shadow of war," the official said.
Turkey pushes for diplomatic negotiations
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday told Iran's foreign minister that resuming Iranian-US talks on Tehran's nuclear program was the only way to achieve a solution to their dispute and the conflict with Israel, the Turkish Presidency said.
Erdogan met Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on the sidelines of an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation meeting in Istanbul. In a statement, his office noted that Erdogan said Israel had to be stopped immediately.
Erdogan said Turkey was ready to play a facilitator role to help resume the nuclear talks, adding "steps should be taken as soon as possible to open up diplomacy via technical and leaders-level talks between Iran and the US," his office added.