Iran announced on Sunday that it may further scale back compliance with its nuclear deal if European powers fail to shield it from US sanctions. “If Europeans don’t take measures within the 60-day deadline (announced by Iran in May), we will take new steps,” said the head of Tehran’s Strategic Council on Foreign Relations Kamal Kharazi according to the semi-official news agency ISNA. “It would be a positive steps if they put resources in (the planned European trade mechanism) Instex and … make trade possible.” The US unilaterally withdrew from the pact and reimposed sanctions last year. On May 8, Iran said it would reduce some of its nuclear commitments to the deal unless the remaining partners -- Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia -- helped it circumvent US sanctions and sell its oil. Amid the growing tensions, Kharazi received in Tehran on Sunday Britain’s Minister of State for the Middle East Andrew Murrison, state-run IRIB news agency reported. The two officials discussed "bilateral ties, regional issues" and the 2015 nuclear deal, the agency said. The British official is expected to meet deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi later on Sunday. Murrison was to call for an "urgent de-escalation" and raise British concerns "about Irans regional conduct and its threat to cease complying with the nuclear deal to which the UK remains fully committed," according to a statement by Britains Foreign Office. Tensions between Washington and Tehran have flared after Iran on Thursday shot down a US drone. Iran said the drone violated its airspace -- a claim the US denies -- near the strategic Strait of Hormuz. In response, the US was ready to carry out a military strike against Iran but US President Donald Trump said he called it off at the last minute. The downing of the drone came after tensions spiked between the two countries following a series of attacks on commercial vessels that the US has blamed on Iran -- accusations vehemently denied by Tehran.