Biarritz: US President Donald Trump said yesterday at the G7 summit that he was prepared to meet his Iranian counterpart within weeks, in what would amount to a stunning change of direction in the two countries’ standoff.
The potential breakthrough was announced by Mr Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, who said he would facilitate the first face-to-face meeting between the US President and the Iranians.
However President Hasan Rouhani said late yesterday Iran had no intention to talk to the US unless all sanctions imposed on Tehran are lifted. “Tehran has never wanted nuclear weapons,” Mr Rouhani said in a televised speech, adding that the country was always ready to hold talks.
“But first the US should act by lifting all illegal, unjust and unfair sanctions imposed on Iran. We will continue to scale back our commitments under the 2015 deal if our interests are not guaranteed,” Rouhani said.
Mr Trump has put in place a policy of “maximum pressure” on Tehran over its disputed nuclear program, via crippling sanctions that critics see as raising the risk of conflict in the Middle East between the US and Iran.
The surprise move by Mr Trump came after Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif made an unscheduled appearance on Sunday on the sidelines of the summit held in Biarritz, at the invitation of Mr Macron.
Read the article in The Australian (AFP).