A top Iranian official has reportedly accused the U.S. of “holding a gun” at Tehran while calling for negotiations.

“The actions of American leaders in exerting pressure and launching sanctions ... while speaking of talks, is like holding a gun at someone and asking for friendship and negotiations,” Rasoul Sanai-Rad, a political deputy of the armed forces command, told the semi-official news agency Mehr on Friday, according to Reuters.

“The behavior of American leaders is a political game which consists of threats and pressure while showing a willingness to negotiate in order to present a peaceful image of themselves and fool public opinion,” Sanai-Rad added.

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Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said this week that his country would not engage in talks on another nuclear agreement with the U.S., saying such talks would be "poison."

The White House, meanwhile, has delivered mixed messages on Iran this week. President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE dismissed a report that he was preparing to deploy 120,000 troops to the Middle East, but said he would send more than that if it became necessary. He has also said multiple times that he does not want to go to war with Iran.

The Washington Post reported Thursday that Trump was frustrated with his top advisers, including national security adviser John Bolton John BoltonMaximum pressure is keeping US troops in Iraq and Syria Woodward book trails Bolton, Mary Trump in first-week sales Ex-NSC official alleges 'unprecedented' intervention by White House aides in Bolton book review MORE and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoTreasury sanctions individuals, groups tied to Russian malign influence activities Navalny released from hospital after suspected poisoning Overnight Defense: Pentagon redirects pandemic funding to defense contractors | US planning for full Afghanistan withdrawal by May | Anti-Trump GOP group puts ads in military papers MORE, over their aggressive stances with Iran and wanted to speak to officials in Tehran himself.

Congressional leaders on Thursday received a confidential Iran briefing.