Iran's president has dismissed the threat of additional sanctions on Iran if Tehran does not comply with international demands to abandon its controversial nuclear program.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday that "no one can impose sanctions on Iran any longer."
Earlier, Iranian media quoted Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hassan Qashqavi as saying sanctions imposed on Iran are as ineffective as a "rusty sword."
Qashqavi said Iran favors dialogue and negotiation.
Representatives from six nations met in Frankfurt, Germany, Wednesday to discuss ways to press Iran to resume talks about its nuclear pursuits.
The five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain) plus Germany are considering imposing harsher sanctions if Iran refuses to stop its uranium enrichment program.
They also have offered Iran trade incentives to halt enrichment activities.
Following talks Wednesday, a German participant urged Tehran to agree to talks before the United Nations General Assembly meets later this month.
Earlier, Iranian state media reports quoted Sa'id Jalili, head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, as saying Iran is ready to resume negotiations. He said Tehran has an "updated" set of proposals that is intended as a basis for talks.
U.S. and EU officials say they have not yet received the updated proposals.
Western nations accuse Iran of seeking to develop weapons, while Tehran says its nuclear program is for peaceful, civilian purposes.
The outgoing chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed ElBaradei, says there is no proof the country will soon have nuclear weapons.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.