The United Kingdom, France and Germany have called on Iran to refrain from escalating tensions and continue negotiations, following the reimposition of UN sanctions.

The three countries that reimposed sanctions on Iran have said that they had no choice but to reimpose them as a last resort due to tensions over Iran's nuclear program and its lack of cooperation.

In a joint statement, the countries said, "We urge Iran to refrain from actions that escalate tensions," and that the reimposition of UN sanctions is not the end of diplomatic efforts.

Last week, Iranian President Masoud Peshmerga said his country had no intention of developing nuclear weapons and denounced the reimposition of international sanctions as "unfair, discriminatory, and illegal."

The United Nations on Saturday reimposed economic and military sanctions imposed a decade ago following a landmark international agreement on Iran's nuclear program.

The United States withdrew from the 2016 deal, saying Iran had resumed its nuclear activities, which the European Union had agreed to halt.

President Donald Trump withdrew his country from the deal in his first term, criticizing the "flawed" agreement reached under former US President Barack Obama.