While US officials have said that Iran is not ready to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, Tehran says these comments are made to incite more antigovernment protests.

Hossein Amir-Abdullahian claimed that “such statements have domestic use and are aimed at provoking some of their agents in Iran.”

He claimed on Saturday that “not only reaching a deal is a priority for the Americans, but they are also in a rush for it.”

His allegations come as US State Department spokesperson, Ned Price, on Wednesday said reviving the 2015 nuclear deal is “not our focus right now.”

“It is very clear, and the Iranians have made very clear that this is not a deal that they have been prepared to make. The deal certainly does not appear imminent,” Price told a briefing.

“Nothing we’ve heard in recent weeks suggests they have changed their position. And so right now our focus is on the remarkable bravery and courage that the Iranian people are exhibiting through their peaceful demonstrations,” he stated.

“Our focus right now is on shining a spotlight on what they’re doing and supporting them in the ways we can,” noted Price, referring to the anti-regime protests across Iran sparked after the death of 22-year-old girl Mahsa Amini by morality police in mid-September.

However, Amir-Abdullahian alleged that Tehran and Washington have exchanged some messages “three days ago” regarding the nuclear agreement.

He said these remarks by US officials are meant to give them an upper hand in the talks through “psychological and political” pressure.