The United States is not interested in pursuing dialogue with Iran despite President Trump's insistence he is willing to sit down for talks, according to one of the European nations attempting to mediate between the two sides.

French authorities — among other European nations — continue to search for a way to defuse growing tensions between the US and Iran. But the French say they see “no signal the US is interested in dialogue,” a defence source in Paris told CNN.

Asked if France would be part of an anti-Iran coalition, which the Trump administration seems to be attempting to construct, the source said that while the French authorities regarded themselves as “good allies,” they would not “automatically” follow Washington’s line on Iran.

“We have our own goals… our own interests,” the source added. The White House has been approached for comment.

It seems likely that acting American defence secretary Mark Esper will hear concerns from French Defense Minister Florence Parly at a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels Wednesday.

French forces in the Persian Gulf continue to carry out joint exercises with the US, including providing force protection for American aircraft carriers.

When asked if that cooperation would continue if there were to be a confrontation the French source said: “We are not at that point yet.”

According to a press briefing to journalists from Britain and the United States, French intelligence services do not believe that the US drone, which was shot down by Iran last week, had violated Iranian air space or rules of operation.