Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif on Monday praised Russia and China for holding strong positions in keeping the 2015 nuclear deal alive and blamed the European parties for failing to keep their promises during a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow.

"We consider Russia and China as partners that have helped us in JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), have held strong positions and who contributed to the continued survival of the JCPOA. Unfortunately, we have not seen the same approach from the Europeans. They have not been able or willing to take the necessary action in order to fulfill their obligations at the JCPOA," Zarif said.

He warned that Iran would further scale back its commitments under the deal if European parties failed to shield Tehran's economy from sanctions reimposed by the U.S. since President Donald Trump exited the deal last year.

"It is meaningless to continue unilateral commitments to the deal if we don't enjoy its benefits as promised by the deal's European parties," Zarif made the remarks after talks with Lavrov.

Iran welcomes Russian proposal for security in Gulf

Regarding escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf, Zarif said Tehran welcomed a Russian proposal for ensuring security in the Persian Gulf.

Iran and Russia's energy ministers also held talks in Moscow on Monday, Lavrov told reporters at a joint news conference with Zarif.

Early on Monday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry announced that Iran is prepared to take 'stronger step' from nuclear deal if Europe doesn't act in the next days.

However, the Iranian measure will be reversible if diplomatic efforts to save Iran's interests under the nuclear deal are effective, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi said.

Iran has recently broken away with the restrictions set by the nuclear accord on the stockpile of its low-grade enriched uranium and its concentration to send a message to the West of Tehran's decisiveness in its response to the Trump's maximum pressure policy.