Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said he had met with French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Biarritz, southwest of France.

"I met Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Biarritz after detailed discussions" with Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Finance Minister Bruno Le Mer, Zarif wrote on Twitter. He published two photos of the meeting. "The road is difficult, but it's worth trying."

US President Donald Trump on Sunday refused to comment on Zarif's arrival in Biarritz, where leaders of the Group of Seven nations are meeting.

"No comment," Trump said when asked.

For her part, German Chancellor Angela Merkel described the surprise visit of Iranian Foreign Minister to the French resort of Biarritz, which is receiving the summit of the Group of Seven industrialized countries, as a contribution to the resolution of the conflict with Iran.

On the sidelines of the G7 summit, Merkel said Sunday that Zarif's visit was "a parallel event in the same place but not a summit event."

Merkel said there was agreement that every attempt to calm the nuclear conflict with Iran was worthwhile.

An official in the French presidency that the decision to invite Zarif on Sunday to attend the summit of the Group of Seven, came after the meeting of leaders of the group, including US President Donald Trump, for dinner Saturday evening.

"Zarif came to Paris on Friday with Iranian proposals that need to be clearly revised," the French official said.

"There was a substantive discussion among the G7 leaders and it is now important to brief Zarif in order to continue bridging the gap ... on the conditions that could lead to an escalation of tension and allow space for negotiations," he said.