Iran's Revolutionary Guards chief commander Mohammad Ali Jafari rejected French President Emmanuel Macron's demand from Tehran to burb its missile program, calling him "young and inexperienced."

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

The program 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.

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

"(French president Emmanuel) Macron's remarks over our missile work is because he is young and inexperienced."

Macron said earlier this month that Tehran should be less aggressive in the region and should clarify the strategy around its ballistic missile programme.

Jafari also said that the Revolutionary Guards will play an active role in post-war Syria and added disarming Lebanon's Hezbollah was non-negotiable.

"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. This issue is non-negotiable," the television quoted Jafari as saying.

Regional tensions have risen in recent weeks between Saudi Arabia and 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.