Iran’s foreign minister has criticised the United Kingdom, France and Germany, signatories to a 2015 nuclear deal, for yielding to Donald Trump, calling the US president a “high school bully".

Mohammed Javid Zarif posted on Twitter a screenshot of a Washington Post report that revealed the Trump administration had “secretly” threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on European cars if the three European countries (known as the E3) did not formally accuse Iran of breaking the deal.

Days later they did so, triggering the agreement’s dispute resolution mechanism, but European officials indicated that they had already been planning this step.

The pact, known as the JCPOA, was agreed in 2015 between Tehran and world powers including the E3. It offered Iran sanctions relief in exchange for curbing its nuclear work.

Mr Trump controversially withdrew from the deal in 2018, re-imposing US sanctions as part of a “maximum pressure” strategy and saying he wanted a tougher deal.

Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Show all 23 1 /23 Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University Iranian police officers take position while protesters gather in front of Amir Kabir University AP Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University Iranians demonstrate following a tribute for the victims of the Ukraine Boeing 737 crash in front of the Amirkabir University in the capital Tehran EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University Iranian police dispersed students chanting "radical" slogans during a gathering in Tehran to honour the 176 people killed when an airliner was mistakenly shot down AFP via Getty Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University - People hold flowers as tear gas fired by police rises Online videos purported to show that Iranian security forces fired both live ammunition and tear gas to disperse demonstrators protesting against the Islamic Republic's initial denial that it shot down a Ukrainian jetliner AP Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University Iranian police officers take position while protesters gather AP Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University AFP correspondents said hundreds of students had gathered early in the evening to pay respects to those killed in the air disaster ISNA/AFP via Getty Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University Iranian protester prepares to throw a tear gas canister back at police AP Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University A protester confronts an Iranian police officer AP Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University epa08120223 Iranians protest to show their sympathy with victims of Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 in front of the Amir Kabir University in Tehran, Iran, 11 January 2020. Media reported that hundreds of Iranians protests in Tehran in solidarity with victims of the Ukraine plane as Iranian military released a statement claiming that Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 was shot down due to human error. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University Iranian police officers take position while protesters gathe AP Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University Iranians light candles for victims EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Anti-government protest at Amirkabir University epa08120526 Iranians protest to show their sympathy to victims of Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 in front of the Amir Kabir University in Tehran, Iran, 11 January 2020. The Iranian military released a statement on 11 January 2020 that Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 was shot down due to 'human error.' The passemger jet en route from Tehran to Kiev crashed minutes after takeoff on 08 January 2020, all all 167 passengers and nine crew members aboard were killed. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west British embassy protest in Tehran People burn British and Israeli flags during a protest in front of the British embassy, in Tehran. Hundreds of Iranian hardliners gathered for a protest against Britain, a day after the UK ambassador to Iran Robert Macaire was detained after attending a a vigil for the victims of Ukraine passenger jet EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west British embassy protestBritish embassy protest in Tehran Chanting "Death to Britain", up to 200 protesters rallied outside the mission a day after the brief arrest of British ambassador Rob Macaire AFP via Getty Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west British embassy protest in Tehran epa08122502 Iranian hardliners shout slogans as they gather in front of the British embassy during an anti-Britain protest, in Tehran, Iran, 12 January 2020. According to reports, hundreds of Iranian hardliners gathered for a protest against Britain, a day after the UK ambassador to Iran Robert Macaire was detained after attending a a vigil for the victims of Ukraine passenger jet. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west British embassy protest in Tehran Iranian demonstrators hold placards bearing the images of slain military commander Qasem Soleimani and Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in front of the British embassy in the capital Tehran on January 12, 2020 following the British ambassador's arrest for allegedly attending an illegal demonstration. - Chanting "Death to Britain", up to 200 protesters rallied outside the mission a day after the brief arrest of British ambassador Rob Macaire at a memorial for those killed when a Ukraine airliner was shot down. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP) (Photo by ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images) ATTA KENARE AFP via Getty Images Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Protesters chant slogans and hold up posters of Gen. Qassem Soleimani while burning representations of British and Israeli flags, during a demonstration in front of the British Embassy in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020. A candlelight ceremony late Saturday in Tehran turned into a protest, with hundreds of people chanting against the country's leaders â€” including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei â€” and police dispersing them with tear gas. Police briefly detained the British ambassador to Iran, Rob Macaire, who said he went to the Saturday vigil without knowing it would turn into a protest. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) Ebrahim Noroozi AP Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west British embassy protest in Tehran epa08122741 Iranian hardliners gather in front of the British embassy during an anti-Britain protest, in Tehran, Iran, 12 January 2020. According to reports, hundreds of Iranian hardliners gathered for a protest against Britain, a day after the UK ambassador to Iran Robert Macaire was detained after attending a a vigil for the victims of Ukraine passenger jet. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west A hardline protester holds up a placard during a demonstration in front of the British Embassy in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020. A candlelight ceremony late Saturday in Tehran turned into a protest, with hundreds of people chanting against the country's leaders â€” including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei â€” and police dispersing them with tear gas. Police briefly detained the British ambassador to Iran, Rob Macaire, who said he went to the Saturday vigil without knowing it would turn into a protest. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) Ebrahim Noroozi AP Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west British embassy protest in Tehran epa08122743 Iranian hardliners gather in front of the British embassy during an anti-Britain protest, in Tehran, Iran, 12 January 2020. According to reports, hundreds of Iranian hardliners gathered for a protest against Britain, a day after the UK ambassador to Iran Robert Macaire was detained after attending a a vigil for the victims of Ukraine passenger jet. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west British embassy protest in Tehran epa08122745 Iranian hardliners gather in front of the British embassy during an anti-Britain protest, in Tehran, Iran, 12 January 2020. According to reports, hundreds of Iranian hardliners gathered for a protest against Britain, a day after the UK ambassador to Iran Robert Macaire was detained after attending a a vigil for the victims of Ukraine passenger jet. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west British embassy protest in Tehran epa08122786 Iranian hardliners gather in front of the British embassy during an anti-Britain protest, in Tehran, Iran, 12 January 2020. According to reports, hundreds of Iranian hardliners gathered for a protest against Britain, a day after the UK ambassador to Iran Robert Macaire was detained after attending a a vigil for the victims of Ukraine passenger jet. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH EPA Protests in Iran over downing of plane and tensions with the west Protesters chant slogans while holding up posters of Gen. Qassem Soleimani during a demonstration in front of the British Embassy in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020. AP

Iran responded by scaling back its compliance with terms of the pact and this month announced it would ditch all limits on uranium enrichment, although maintained it wanted to keep the deal in place.

In response Britain, France and Germany triggered the accord's dispute mechanism this week. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it could be time for a "Trump deal" to replace the pact, while Paris said broad talks were needed.

Mr Zarif tweeted “Appeasement confirmed. E3 sold out remnants of ‪#JCPOA to avoid new Trump tariffs,” with a screenshot of the Washington Post article.

“It won't work my friends. You only whet his appetite. Remember your high school bully?” he added.

Two European diplomats confirmed to Reuters that Washington had threatened tariffs against Europe but maintained leaders of the three European states had already decided to trigger the mechanism before that.

Another diplomat said Washington risked "discrediting the Europeans, but then Trump doesn’t really care about that," adding a US threat to impose tariffs on the Europeans would send a message to Iran that only Washington mattered.

The European Union said on Thursday its top diplomat, Joseph Borrell, held "frank" talks with Mr Zarif on the side-lines of a conference in New Delhi.

Triggering the dispute mechanism could see the re-imposition of UN sanctions and sound the end of the accord.

“If you want to sell your integrity, go ahead. But do not assume moral/legal ground," Mr Zarif wrote adding in block capitals “ YOU DON'T HAVE IT.”

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani doubled down on Tehran’s threat to keep enriching its uranium on Thursday saying there are “no limits”.

In a speech before the heads of banks, President Rouhani said the nuclear programme is in a "better situation" than it was before the nuclear agreement with world powers.

However, it has only moderately increased its nuclear activity.

In recent months it has boosted its enrichment of uranium to 4.5 per cent – higher than the 3.67 per cent limit set by the agreement but far from the 20 per cent enrichment it was engaged in before the deal. Uranium must be enriched to 90 per cent to be used in a nuclear weapon.

The three European countries have spent months trying to salvage the team but have not found a way of navigating increased US sanctions.

The nuclear row has been at the heart of a dangerous standoff between Iran and the US, which nearly spiralled into war earlier this month after Washington killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike on Baghdad.

Effigy of UK ambassador to Iran set on fire in Tehran

While on high alert for a counter attack, Iran accidentally shot down a Ukrainian civilian airliner, triggering days of anti-government protests at home. Anger at the state has continued at victims' funerals.

On Thursday mourners shouted "Death to the dictator," as they buried two victims of the plane disaster in the city of Sanandaj according to videos posted online.