The 39-year-old Mr Macron had previously said Tehran should be less aggressive and should clarify the strategy around its ballistic missile programme.

But Mohammad Ali Jafari, head of Revolutionary Guard Corps, dismissed the French leader, and insisted Iran "will not negotiate its defensive programme". 

He was discussing Iran's role in establishing a lasting ceasefire in war-torn Syria when he reacted to Mr Macron's comments during a television interview. 

Jafari also said the issue of disarming Lebanese militant group Hezbollah was "non-negotiable". 

He said: "Hezbollah must be armed to fight against the enemy of the Lebanese nation which is Israel. 

"Naturally they should have the best weapons to protect Lebanon's security."

Regional tensions have risen in recent weeks between Sunni Muslim monarchy Saudi Arabia and Shi'ite Iran, whose rivalry has wrought upheaval in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Bahrain.

Saudi Arabia has accused the heavily armed Iran-backed Hezbollah of helping Houthi forces in Yemen and playing a role in a ballistic missile attack on the kingdom earlier this month. Iran and Hezbollah both denied the claims.

Jafari repeated Iran's stance on its disputed ballistic missile work, saying the Islamic Republic's missile program is for defensive purposes and not up for negotiation.

he programme was not part of the 2015 nuclear deal with Western powers under which Iran agreed to curb its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some sanctions.

He said: "Iran will not negotiate its defensive program ... there will be no talks about it.

"Macron's remarks over our missile work is because he is young and inexperienced."

This week, in separate telephone calls, 39-year-old Mr Macron urged Iran’s Hassan Rouhani and Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu to keep Lebanon “disassociated” with regional crisis.

Mr Macron’s office also said the president had told Mr Rouhani and Mr Netanyahu that France remained committed to the “implementation and preservation” of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, and that regional subjects and ballistic missile programmes should be “discussed separately”.

Fears of World War 3 have increased in recent weeks amid a spiralling fallout between the Saudi Arabia and Tehran.

Saudi Arabia has warned it will not hesitate to defend itself against Iran amid warnings the region is being pushed into a “dangerous abyss”.

Saudi Arabia and other Arab foreign ministers criticised Iran and its Lebanese Shi'ite ally Hezbollah at the emergency meeting warning they would not stand by in the face of Iranian interference in Arab affairs.

Adel Jubeir, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister, said: “The kingdom will not stand by and will not hesitate to defend its security.

"Any leniency in dealing with their policies would only encourage them more, so we must stand together.”