Germany's Merkel defies Trump, defends Iran nuclear deal

Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel said the Iran nuclear accord helped concerned world leaders in dealing with the Islamic Republic, pushing back against Washington's rejection of the deal.

The German chancellor echoed sentiments on Wednesday by other major European countries, which maintain that the deal is the most effective way to stop the increasingly influential regional power from obtaining an atomic weapon.

"The question is whether you can talk better if you terminate an agreement or if you stay in it... we say you can talk better if you remain in it," she said, according to Reuters.

"This agreement is everything other than ideal, but Iran is, according to all the knowledge of the international nuclear authorities, sticking to the commitments of the agreement."

Tehran has accused the US of trying to sabotage efforts to save a nuclear deal between Iran, Russia, Europe and China, following Washington's withdrawal last week from the accord.

Meanwhile, Tehran is looking for guarantees from Europe that the deal can continue without the US and warned it could restart its nuclear programme if talks fail.

The US has announced new sanctions on Iran, including on the country's central bank head. 

Iran's foreign ministry has claimed the US is doing its best to derail the deal.