Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham made the remarks late on Thursday, saying the Islamic Republic is standing firm on its inalienable rights and will never withdraw.

She stated that US hostility will never force Tehran to give up its nuclear rights.

The Foreign Ministry spokeswoman made the remarks after US Secretary of State John Kerry said the Geneva deal froze Iran's nuclear energy program and forced Tehran to destroy some of its uranium stockpile and that sanctions against Iran remain in place.

Afkham said such remarks tarnish the positive atmosphere between Iran and the six major world powers ahead of a new round of talks in less than two weeks.

“The US is trying to impose a new negative atmosphere on the talks,” Afkham stated.

Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – Russia, China, France, Britain and the US – plus Germany are scheduled to hold the next round of their nuclear talks in the Austrian capital Vienna on February 18.

The meeting will come in light of the implementation of the interim nuclear deal between Iran and the Sextet of world powers which was clinched in the Swiss city of Geneva last November.

Under the Geneva deal, the six countries undertook to provide Iran with some sanctions relief in exchange for Iran agreeing to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities during a six-month period. It was also agreed that no nuclear-related sanctions would be imposed on Iran within the same timeframe.

NJF/NJF