Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi suggested Tuesday that the window for direct negotiations with the US on Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers was not entirely shut, Yeni Safak reports.

Speaking in a televised interview with the state broadcaster on the growing speculation about the two long-time adversaries sitting across the table, Raisi said the request had been made by the US many times in recent years.

"No direct negotiations have taken place so far (with the US), but we now declare that there is room for negotiation if the other side wants to lift the oppressive sanctions," he said in response to a question.

He said "some countries" had conveyed the message to Iran on behalf of Washington, proposing direct negotiations.

Raisi's remarks came hours after Iran's top security official Ali Shamkhani said contacts between the two sides have so far been confined to "informal written exchanges," saying there has been "no need for more."

He added, however, that the communication method could change from informal to formal "when a good agreement (in Vienna) is within reach