The issue of getting Iran and the United States had seen renewed efforts from France and the United Kingdom.
While in the United States to attend the United Nations, Both the countries had urged Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to meet with the United States President Donald Trump. The relationship between Iran and the United States have been hostile since the US decision to pull out from the Iran Nuclear Deal in 2015.
The reimposition of tariffs has harmed the Iranian economy. The further ideology of the US to exert maximum pressure on Iran to bring them to the negotiating table has led to the strikes on Saudi Oil facilities earlier this month.
According to a report in Reuters, French President Emmanuel Macron said, “If he leaves the country without meeting with President Trump, this is a lost opportunity”.
The rising tensions in the Middle-East have led to the increased concerns of the West. The pressure on Iran and the sanctions which have managed to decrease the export of Iranian Oil and the various other sectors have led the attacks on the oil trade. The attacks on the oil facilities had followed other attacks on the oil facilities in Saudi Arabia and the oil tankers which have been passing the Strait of Hormuz. The US had squarely blamed the Iranian regime, blame which Iran denies.
The change in the status quo has led to the growing uncertainty about the regional stability in the Middle-East which already is a hotbed of violence. Iran has requested the US to go back to the Iranian Nuclear Deal and relax the sanctions to negotiate with it. The US has been concerned about the nature of the Iranian nuclear project. It is also concerned about the impact it will have in the region which might impact the strategic interests of the US.
As of now, neither of the leaders have met with each other on the sidelines of the United Nations.
(Inputs from agencies)