Trump, Macron call for 'new' nuclear deal with Iran
WASHINGTON (AFP) – US President Donald Trump and French counterpart Emmanuel Macron called for a "new" deal with Iran Tuesday, looking beyond divisions over a landmark nuclear accord that still hangs in the balance.
Trump laid transatlantic divisions bare during a visit by the French president, pillorying a three-year old agreement designed to curb Iran's nuclear program.
The US leader described the deal as "insane" and "ridiculous," despite European pleas for him not to walk away.
Instead, Trump eyed a broader "deal" that would also limit Iran's ballistic missile program and support for militant groups across the Middle East.
"I think we will have a great shot at doing a much bigger, maybe, deal," said Trump, stressing that any new accord would have to be built on "solid foundations."
"They should have made a deal that covered Yemen, that covered Syria, that covered other parts of the Middle East," said Trump.
"No matter where you go in the Middle East, you see the fingerprints of Iran behind problems."
Macron admitted after meeting Trump that he did not know whether the US president would walk away from the nuclear deal when a May 12 decision deadline comes up.
"I can say that we have had very frank discussions on that, just the two of us," Macron told a joint press conference with Trump at his side.