Britain, France and Germany's offer to extend the Iran nuclear deal and avoid the reimposition of sanctions in 30 days "remains on the table," British Ambassador Barbara Woodward said at the United Nations on Friday.

The three European nations, known as the E3, triggered the so-called "snapback" mechanism the previous day to reinstate UN sanctions on Tehran for failing to comply with commitments made in a 2015 deal over its nuclear programme.

The deal was badly weakened when US President Donald Trump left the accord during his first mandate, and as subsequent accusations of Iranian non-compliance have multiplied.

In July, "we offered Iran an extension to snapback, should Iran take specific steps to address our most immediate concerns," Woodward said alongside her German and French counterparts ahead of a closed-door Security Council meeting on the issue.

But Tehran rejected this offer, arguing that the Europeans did not have the right to reimpose the UN sanctions that were lifted a decade ago.

"As of today, Iran has shown no indication that it is serious about meeting" the E3's requests, the ambassador said.

"It is not implementing its obligations to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency. It has not reengaged in negotiations with the United States," she said.

But triggering the snapback mechanism "does not mark the end of diplomacy. Our extension offer remains on the table," Woodward said.

"We urge Iran to reconsider this position, to reach an agreement based on our offer, and to help create the space for a diplomatic solution to this issue for the long term," she added.

Unlike usual Security Council measures, the "snapback" mechanism stipulates that sanctions will be reinstated after 30 days unless the Council adopts a resolution confirming that they are lifted.

Signed by the E3, Iran, the United States, China and Russia, the nuclear deal -- known as the JCPOA -- suspended various sanctions imposed on Tehran by the United Nations.

The 2015 deal was aimed at resolving the standoff over Iran's nuclear activities, which had escalated after secret nuclear facilities were uncovered at the start of the 2000s.

Western countries accuse Iran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons -- something Tehran denies, defending its right to what it insists is a civilian nuclear programme. (AFP)