"Iran has always sought to reduce tensions in the region, trying to strengthen security and stability," Rouhani told Merkel in a telephone call,

Rouhani also brought up US President Donald Trump's recent decision to pull out from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, a landmark nuclear deal that Iran signed in 2015 with the US, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany.

"Breaching and stamping on an agreement endorsed by a United Nations Security Council resolution will lead to damaging consequences on the world stage," he said.

The JCPOA was reached after some 12 years of negotiations between Iran on one side and the six world powers on the other in July 2015.

After criticizing the agreement for months, Trump on Tuesday officially declared that Washington was pulling out of the deal.

The issues which can help preserve the JCPOA should be explored in a multiple-week opportunity and during meetings between foreign ministers and expert groups of Iran and European states, President Rouhani said.

Late on Tuesday, Trump angered the six other parties to the Iran nuclear deal and the entire international community by withdrawing the US from the landmark accord, which is officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The US president also threatened that the “highest level” of economic sanctions would be reinstated against Iran.

Tehran has reiterated that it will remain in the JCPOA for now, pending negotiations with the other signatories in the coming weeks before making a final decision on its future role in the pact.

The Iranian administration once again emphasized that no part of the nuclear deal, which is the outcome of over a decade of negotiations, is up for negotiation.