Iran would continue to follow the terms of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) if Washington lifts sanctions imposed on it, Iranian Atomic Energy Organization Head Mohammad Eslami confirmed on Wednesday.

Eslami was quoted by Fars news agency as saying that Iran does not conduct "any activities which lie beyond the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] authority and which contradict the data that the agency has."

The Iranian official explained that Tehran acts in compliance with the law on strategic steps to lift sanctions adopted by the parliament.

"When the sanctions are lifted, we will, of course, maintain all of the JCPOA provisions," he asserted.

Last week, Iran's Foreign Ministry dismissed reports about Leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei allegedly permitting the country's government to conduct direct negotiations with the United States over the Iranian nuclear program and a mechanism for the lifting of sanctions.

The UK-based Amwaj news website, citing sources in Tehran, reported that Sayyed Khamenei had allegedly instructed the Iranian nuclear negotiating team to enter direct talks with the US.

The British website said that Iran taking such a U-turn could be "a watershed moment for the contention over the Iranian nuclear program."

The 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), aimed to curb Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief from world powers. The talks between Tehran and Washington had been stalled for months, raising concerns over the future of the deal. 

West should wipe crocodile tears: Iran on new sanctions

In mid-September, Iran strongly criticized the United States and its allies for imposing a fresh round of sanctions against the nation. These sanctions were imposed due to Iran's defense of its security and its response to Western-backed riots that occurred throughout the country last year.

The United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union sanctioned numerous Iranian individuals and entities, alleging their involvement in suppressing or misrepresenting the events during last year's unrest.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani condemned these sanctions as "unconstructive behavior," which he argued did not align with the Western countries' interests.