This handout picture released by Iran's Atomic Energy Organization on Nov 4, 2019, shows the atomic enrichment facilities at the Natanz nuclear research center, some 300 kilometers south of the capital Tehran. (HO / ATOMIC ENERGY ORGANIZATION OF IRAN / AFP)

DUBAI/TEHRAN - Iran on Sunday ruled out holding an informal meeting with the United States and other major powers to discuss ways to salvage the unravelling 2015 nuclear deal, insisting Washington must first lift all its unilateral sanctions.

This comes as the official IRNA news agency reported on Sunday that Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) will install new generations of IR2M and IR6 centrifuges at the Fordow and Natanz nuclear facilities. AEOI also aims to produce 120 kg of 20 percent enriched uranium within a year.

Iranian media quoted Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Saeed Khatibzadeh, as saying, "Considering the recent positions and actions of the United States and three European countries, the Islamic Republic of Iran does not consider the time to be appropriate for an informal meeting proposed by the European coordinator of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action."

ALSO READ: Khamenei: Iran could increase uranium enrichment to 60%

The United States said it was disappointed but remained ready to “re-engage in meaningful diplomacy” and would consult with the other major powers to seek a way forward

The United States said it was disappointed but remained ready to “re-engage in meaningful diplomacy” and would consult with the other major powers to seek a way forward.

Last week, the European Union offered to attend an informal meeting between Iran and other parties to the JCPOA, which refers to the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal, with the United States also attending as a guest.

Iranian officials had said Tehran was studying a proposal by European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell to hold an informal meeting with other parties to the nuclear pact and the United States, which reimposed sanctions on Iran after then-President Donald Trump quit the deal in 2018.

The new administration of President Joe Biden has said it is ready to talk to Iran about both nations resuming compliance with the accord, which scrapped broad economic sanctions against Iran in return for curbs intended to prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons - something Iran says it does not want.

But the parties cannot agree who should make the first move.

Iran says the United States must lift sanctions, while Washington says Tehran must return to compliance with the deal, which Iran has been progressively breaching since 2019.

READ MORE: Zarif: Iran will reverse nuclear actions when US lifts sanctions

A White House spokeswoman said Washington remained keen to achieve a “mutual return to compliance” with the deal.

Earlier, Iran’s nuclear chief urged the International Atomic Energy Agency’s 35-nation Board of Governors not to endorse a US-led push to criticize Tehran’s decision to scale back its cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.

“If the IAEA’s Board of Governors adopts a resolution against Iran, we will show an appropriate reaction,” Ali Akbar Salehi said, according to the Iranian state news agency, IRNA.

In a position paper seen by Reuters and sent to other IAEA member states before the board’s quarterly meeting this week, Tehran threatens to end a deal struck with the IAEA a week ago temporarily maintaining some monitoring of its activities.

Diplomats said it was unclear whether the board would adopt a resolution.

Last Tuesday, Tehran stopped implementing the so-called Additional Protocol, which had enabled the IAEA to carry out snap inspections at undeclared locations.

READ MORE: Iran stops snap nuclear checks, state-run daily urges caution

But under the Feb 21 agreement, Tehran agreed to maintain the recording of extra data as specified by the 2015 deal for up to three months, and to let the IAEA access it at the end if sanctions were lifted.

Khatibzadeh said there was no need for a “negotiation or a resolution” by the IAEA board of governors for the United States to “end its illegal and unilateral sanctions and return to its commitments.”