Europe, China, Russia discuss 'new deal' for Iran

Diplomats from China, Europe and Russia are discussing a new deal to offer Iran financial aid to curb its ballistic missile programme in the hope of salvaging the landmark 2015 nuclear accord.

The officials will meet in the coming weeks under the leadership of senior European Union diplomat Helga Schmid to discuss next steps after a decision earlier this month by US President Donald Trump to withdraw from the nuclear deal, Germany's Welt am Sonntag newspaper reported.

Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China will participate in the meeting while it was not immediately clear if Iran would take part.

The US will not take part in the meeting.

"We have to get away from the name 'Vienna nuclear agreement' and add in a few additional elements. Only that will convince President Trump to agree and lift sanctions again," the paper quoted a senior EU diplomat as saying.

The 2015 nuclear deal lifted Western sanctions on Iran in return for a curb to its nuclear program. One of the Trump administration's main complaints was that the deal did not cover Iran's missile programme or its support for armed groups in the Middle East.

European Union leaders have agreed on a "united EU approach" to keeping the Iran nuclear deal alive since US President Donald Trump withdrew from the pact.

Last week, Iran's foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif began talks in Brussels on the final leg of a global tour rallying diplomatic support for the country's nuclear deal after the abrupt withdrawal by the US.

Zarif's meetings in Brussels capped a whirlwind global tour, including trips to both Russia and China, the two other signatory nations, in a bid to bolster support.