Tehran, Feb 23 (IANS): Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said that his country was open to talks with the European Union (EU) on possible ways to save the 2015 landmark nuclear deal between Tehran and major world powers, the media reported.

"We believe that the nuclear deal served the interests of the region and the world and the US move harms all (nations) and even the American people," Press TV quoted Rouhani as saying in a meeting with Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok here on Saturday.

"Over the past 21 months since the US exit from the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), the EU has unfortunately failed to take effective steps in line with mutual relations and the fulfilment of its commitments under the JCPOA," he added.

The Dutch Minister, for his part, said his country would make efforts to preserve the JCPOA and stressed the importance of continuing dialog as a means of solving problems.

In May 2018, US President Donald Trump unilaterally pulled Washington out of the JCPOA in May 2018, and unleashed the "toughest ever" sanctions against Iran.

In retaliation, Iran began a set of nuclear counter-measures, reported Press TV.

The country stopped recognizing the limits set by the deal on the level of its enrichment activities and the volume of its heavy water reservoir.

On January 5, the country said it would no longer observe any operational limitations on its nuclear industry, whether concerning the capacity and level of uranium enrichment, the volume of stockpiled uranium or research and development.