Iran rejected as "irresponsible" France's comments that Paris was seriously considering triggering a mechanism within the Iran nuclear deal that could lead to UN sanctions.

Axar.az reports citing Aawsat that French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told a parliamentary hearing on Wednesday that "every two months, there is another dent (in the deal by Iran) to the point where today we ask ourselves, and I'm saying this very clearly, about the implementation of the dispute resolution mechanism that exists in the deal."

"Iran's scaling back of its nuclear commitments was the implementation of its legal rights to react to America's illegal and unilateral exit of the deal and the European parties' failure to fulfill their obligations," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said.

"Under these circumstances, the deal does not allow triggering of the mechanism by the European parties to the deal ... such remarks by the French official are irresponsible and not constructive."

That has prompted Iran to renege step by step from its non-proliferation commitments under the deal. Until now the European powers have opted to hold back on triggering the mechanism, fearing it could further impede diplomatic efforts, notably by France, to defuse tensions.