Reuters - The international community and remaining signatories of Iran�s nuclear deal should act to save the accord as �supportive statements� are not enough, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told state media during a visit to Japan and China.

Last week, Iran notified the five remaining signatories that it would scale back some commitments under its 2015 nuclear deal, a year after Washington left the pact and reimposed sanctions on Tehran. Tehran has asked the other signatories to help protect its economy from U.S. sanctions.

�Safeguarding the (nuclear accord) is possible through practical measures, and not only through supportive statements,� Zarif was quoted as saying by the state news agency IRNA.

�If the international community feels that this (nuclear) accord is a valuable achievement, then it should take practical steps just like Iran does,� Zarif said on Iranian state television. �The meaning of practical steps is fully clear: Iran�s economic relations should be normalized.�

Reporting by Dubai newsroom; Editing by Hugh Lawson