Washington DC, August 27: United States President Donald Trump said he was ready to meet Iranian President Hassan Rouhani after the G7 summit talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme ends in the French city of Biarritz.
French President Emmanuel Macron has said the “conditions for a meeting” between Rouhani and Trump is likely to take place in the next few weeks had generated keeping in line with intense consultations and diplomacy.
“If the circumstances were correct, I would certainly agree to that,” Trump said at a joint media conference with Macron.
Asked if he thought proposed timeline by Macron was realistic, Trump said, “It does,” adding he thought Rouhani would be in favour.
“I think he’s going to want to meet. I think Iran wants to get this situation straightened out,” Trump added.
Trump has imposed “maximum pressure” on Iran over its strategic nuclear programme via putting in place crippling sanctions, considered as a rise in conflicts in the Middle East.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had made a surprise visit at the G7 summit at the invitation extended by Macron, and Rouhani defended his visit by saying, “I believe that for our country’s national interests we must use any tool.”
However, Rouhani said Iran has no willingness to hold dialogues with the US unless all imposed sanctions are lifted. He also claimed to breach the INF Treaty unless the US lifts illegal, unjust, unfair sanctions imposed on Iran.
“But first the US should act by lifting all illegal, unjust and unfair sanctions imposed on Iran,” Rouhani said. He added, “We will continue to scale back our commitments under the 2015 deal if our interests are not guaranteed,” according to Dawn news reports.