New York, September 24 (RHC)-- Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has slammed Washington's aggressive behavior towards the Islamic Republic, as characterized by the U.S. economic war against Tehran through the re-imposition of tough sanctions, noting that Iranians cannot be brought to their knees through such pressures.

Zarif, who is currently in New York to attend the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly, made the remarks in an interview with the National Public Radio (NPR) on Sunday, whose text was published on the NPR’s website on Monday.

"Abandon the illusion that Iran can be defeated by pressure," Zarif said, adding: "We are resisting an unprovoked aggression by the United States."   Iran's top diplomat then emphasized: “I can assure you that the United States will not be able to bring us to our knees through pressure."

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said last week that Iran will not engage in negotiations with the United States “at any level,” and that Washington's "maximum pressure" campaign against the Iranian nation has failed to achieve its goals.

Ayatollah Khamenei says Washington can be part of the negotiations with Tehran along with other cosignatories to the nuclear deal, only if it returns to the JCPOA.

Ayatollah Khamenei added that entering talks with the US under the current circumstances would be tantamount to surrendering to Washington's undue pressure campaign, saying, "Negotiating would mean Washington imposing its demands on Tehran. It would also be a manifestation of the victory of America’s maximum pressure campaign.”