Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian denies that Tehran sought nuclear weapons, has expressed readiness for dialogue and condemned US sanctions during talks with Georgia’s prime minister, AFP reports.

Pezeshkian and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze have met on the sidelines of a UN biodiversity summit in Armenia’s capital Yerevan.

“Iran is not seeking nuclear weapons, and we consider the malicious propaganda against our country to be lies,” Pezeshkian says, according to a statement from his office.

“We have always been ready for dialogue. They think they can force us to surrender, but we will not bow to coercion,” he adds, calling US sanctions against Tehran “unjustifiable and inhumane”.