Iran will not resume negotiations with the United States on its nuclear programme while President Donald Trump applies his "maximum pressure" policy, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told AFP on Friday.

Iran will maintain talks with other negotiators but will not engage with the US under Trump's approach of ramping up sanctions, he said in an interview at the Iranian consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Later on Friday, Trump said he had written to Iran warning it to open negotiations or face a military attack.

"I've written them a letter, saying I hope you're going to negotiate because if we have to go in militarily, it's going to be a terrible thing for them," he told Fox Business.

Araghchi also warned against an Israeli attack on Iran and said its nuclear programme, which it insists is for civilian purposes, could not be destroyed by military means.

Question: Is Iran prepared to reopen negotiations with the US on its nuclear programme?

Abbas Araghchi: "We will not enter any direct negotiations with the US so long as they continue their maximum pressure policy and their threats but it doesn't mean that regarding our nuclear programme, we will not negotiate with other parties; we are talking with the three European countries, we are negotiating with Russia and China, other members of the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the 2015 agreement between Iran and major powers on its nuclear programme), and these talks can continue and I think we can reach a........

© International Business Times