Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif met French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Biarritz on Sunday despite the US's personal sanctions on him.

Zarif tweeted the pictures alongside the caption: "Iran's active diplomacy in pursuit of constructive engagement continues."

He added: "[The] Road ahead is difficult. But worth trying."

Zarif met Macron in Paris last week to discuss the fate of the Joint-Comprehensive Plan of Action, otherwise known as the Iran nuclear deal, which he described as a 'good conversation and also productive.'

However, the unscheduled meeting is likely to come as a surprise for US President Donald Trump's administration who have pursued a 'maximum pressure' campaign on Iran through sanctions and rhetoric.

Mandatory credit: Iran foreign ministry