Iran says US president's invitation to dialogue 'contradictory'

Iran's foreign ministry on Tuesday criticised US President Donald Trump's call for dialogue, accusing Washington of "hostile and criminal behaviour" after his remarks to Israel's parliament about being ready to strike a deal with Tehran.

The ministry said in a statement that Trump's call for peace is in conflict with his actions towards Iran.

Tehran hit back at the US president over his speech at the Israeli parliament, where he accused the country of "threatening their neighbours" and "funding militant proxies".

The country's foreign ministry termed the US as the world's "largest producer of terrorism" and the supporter of the "terrorist and genocidal Zionist regime".

In June, the US joined Israel in striking Iranian nuclear facilities after five rounds of indirect nuclear talks with Tehran that stalled over issues like domestic nuclear enrichment.

"Mr. Trump can either be a President of Peace or a President of War, but he cannot be both at the same time," Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in a separate comment on X on Tuesday.

The foreign minister reiterated his position that Tehran has always been open to "respectful and mutually beneficial diplomatic engagement."

US demands that Tehran stop enriching uranium were rejected earlier this year as "excessive and outrageous" by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who said Tehran's issue with Washington was currently "unsolvable" as the other side wants "Iran to be obedient to America."

Western countries accuse Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, but Tehran maintains its nuclear programme is only for civilian purposes.

Last month, the United Nations reinstated an arms embargo and other sanctions on Iran following a process triggered by key European powers.

Britain, France and Germany triggered the return of sanctions on Iran at the UN Security Council over accusations the country has violated a 2015 deal that aimed to stop it from developing a nuclear bomb.