AppleScript: Don't let the user continue until the value is greater than 0 - compare

Question

I am trying to make the user to input the amount of X things, but these things can't be lower than 0, and in the case the user input more than 32 the code should wanrn the user but still allow to continue if chose to.
This is the code I have so far:
set aerender_clone to 0
set USER_instances to 0
repeat until USER_instances ≥ 1
set USER_instances to the text returned of (display dialog "Render instances" default answer 1 with icon note buttons {"Cancel", "Continue"} default button "Continue")
if USER_instances < 0 then
display dialog "Atleast 1 instance must be selected" with icon note buttons {"sure, ok"} default button "sure, ok"
else if USER_instances > 32 then
display dialog "We recomend a maximum of 32, still want to continue?" with icon note buttons {"No", "Yes"} default button "No"
set USER_instances to 0
else
display dialog "Code is working!"
set aerender_clone to USER_instances
end if
end repeat
The thing is that If I input a number like 4, 8, 6, the code keeps warning me that my number is greater than 32, but if I input 12 the code continues.
I am a bit lost here.

Answer 1

You'll want to set your USER_instances variable to an actual number value with as number:
set USER_instances to the text returned of (display dialog "Render instances" default answer 1 with icon note buttons {"Cancel", "Continue"} default button "Continue") as number
The comparison should work after adding as number to the end of the declaration.

Answer 2

If anyone need it, this is, now, the correct code, thanks to l'L'l answser.
set aerender_clone to 0 as number
set USER_instances to 0 as number
set UserOptions to {yes, no}
set USERcanContinue to no
repeat until USERcanContinue contains yes
repeat until USER_instances is greater than 0
set USER_instances to (the text returned of (display dialog "Render instances" default answer 1 with icon note buttons {"Cancel", "Continue"} default button "Continue")) as number
if USER_instances is less than 1 then
display dialog "Atleast 1 instance must be selected" with icon note buttons {"sure, ok"} default button "sure, ok"
else
-- skip
end if
end repeat
if USER_instances is greater than 32 then
display dialog "We recomend a maximum of 32, still want to continue?" with icon note buttons {"No", "Yes"} default button "No"
if button returned of result = "No" then
set USERcanContinue to no
set USER_instances to 0 as number
else
if button returned of result = "Yes" then
set USERcanContinue to yes
end if
end if
else
set USERcanContinue to yes
end if
end repeat
set aerender_clone to USER_instances