Donald Trump has suggested he turned down requests to meet Iranian president Hassan Rouhani, but that he may agree to talks "someday in the future".

The US president said that "despite requests" from unnamed individuals or groups, he had "no plans" to meet his Iranian counterpart.

"I am sure he is an absolutely lovely man," Mr Trump added in a tweet on Tuesday morning.

The comments come amid a diplomatic standoff between Washington and Tehran after Mr Trump pulled out of an international nuclear deal with America's historic foe in May.

He has since begun to reinstate economic sanctions and has pressed other countries to stop buying Iranian oil, prompting criticism in Iran that the US was waging "economic war".

Mr Rouhani has also ruled out a meeting, telling NBC News on Monday that conditions had not been met for talks to take place.

"Naturally, if someone is keen on having a meeting and holding dialogue and creating progress in relationships, that person would not use the tool of sanctions and threats [and bring] to bear all of its power against another government and nation," he told the US broadcaster.

Iran parliament reacts after Trump's withdrawal from nuclear deal Show all 10 1 /10 Iran parliament reacts after Trump's withdrawal from nuclear deal Iran parliament reacts after Trump's withdrawal from nuclear deal Iranian MPs burnt a US flag in parliament after Donald Trump announced America's withdrawal from the nuclear deal. AFP/Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency Iran parliament reacts after Trump's withdrawal from nuclear deal US President Donald Trump displays a presidential memorandum after announcing his intent to withdraw from the JCPOA Iran nuclear agreement in the Diplomatic Room at the White House. Reuters Iran parliament reacts after Trump's withdrawal from nuclear deal Some Iranian MPs reacted after Trumps decision by shouting 'death to America'. AFP/Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency Iran parliament reacts after Trump's withdrawal from nuclear deal Iranian lawmakers prepare to burn two pieces of papers representing the US flag and the nuclear deal. AP Iran parliament reacts after Trump's withdrawal from nuclear deal Iran said it will hold talks with signatories to the nuclear deal after Trump's decision to withdraw from the accord, which it branded "psychological warfare". AFP/Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency Iran parliament reacts after Trump's withdrawal from nuclear deal Several Iranian MPs stood chanting in the Tehran parliament. AFP/Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency Iran parliament reacts after Trump's withdrawal from nuclear deal Iranian MPs burning a US flag AFP/Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency Iran parliament reacts after Trump's withdrawal from nuclear deal President Hassan Rouhani addressed the nation in a televised speech in Tehran. He said he'd send his foreign minister to negotiate with countries remaining in the nuclear deal after Trump's decision to pull America from the deal, warning he otherwise would restart enriching uranium "in the next weeks." Iranian Presidency Office via AP Iran parliament reacts after Trump's withdrawal from nuclear deal Iran's press condemned Trump's withdrawal from a multi-party nuclear deal but was divided over whether Tehran should react with patience or withdraw itself. AFP Iran parliament reacts after Trump's withdrawal from nuclear deal Trump announced the US withdrawal from what he called the "defective" multinational nuclear deal with Iran, and said Washington would reinstate sanctions against the Islamic republic. AFP/Getty

Mr Trump's tweet also comes as world leaders gather at the UN in New York, where he will address the general assembly later on Tuesday.

The US president is expected to be unapologetic about his decision to engage with North Korea and to remove the US from the Iran nuclear accord.

Ahead of his UN address, Iran's Revolutionary Guards called Mr Trump "evil and adventurous" and said his "economic war and cruel sanctions" were an attack on their country.

Relations between the two countries have been further strained by an attack on a military parade at the weekend that left 25 dead and which Tehran blamed on US allies in the region.

TV feed shows moment of Iran military parade attack