VIENNA (AP) — Iran’s supreme leader on Tuesday rejected direct negotiations with the United States over his country’s nuclear program, likely slamming the door shut on a last-ditch effort to halt the reimposition of United Nations sanctions on Tehran.

Khamenei also said Iran would not "surrender to pressure" regarding uranium enrichment. European diplomats stated that sanctions will be reimposed if no deal is reached by September 27th.

Iran insists diplomacy is the only way to resolve a decades-long nuclear dispute with the West, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Iranian state TV on Monday, adding it was time for the West to choose "cooperation or confrontation" amid looming sanctions.

Addressing the world's leaders, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday blamed the United States and Israeli attacks for "dealing a grievous blow" to peace negotiations as Tehran braces for the reinstatement of sanctions next week,

European powers seeking to soon reimpose tough sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program met Tuesday with Tehran's top diplomat, but there were no signs of compromise.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Iran has begun rebuilding missile-production sites targeted by Israel during its 12-day war in June, satellite images analyzed by The Associated Press show, but a key component is likely still missing — the large mixers needed to produce solid fuel for the weapons.

European leaders warned Iran it has only hours left to meet nuclear transparency demands and avert the reimposition of UN sanctions, though talks continue at the UN General Assembly.

Russian and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday on the construction of small nuclear power plants in Iran, Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom said.