US smiles apart over Iran deal
DONALD Trump makes a quip about a flake of “dandruff” on the shoulder of French President Emmanuel Macron yesterday – as they meet to discuss the fate of the Iran nuclear deal.
“We have a very special relationship, in fact, I’ll get that little piece of dandruff off,” the US President said as the two leaders posed for photos.
Despite the jokes and air-kisses, hours of talks failed to provide clarity on the deal, which Trump wants to rip up and Macron hopes to salvage.
Trump has until May 12 to sign an extension of the Obama-era nuclear pact. The agreement lifted sanctions on Iran in return for the country curbing its nuclear energy programme.
But Mr Trump believes it was too lenient and yesterday he warned Iran it will “have big problems” if it restarts its nuclear project.
Germany’s Angela Merkel visits on Friday in a bid to stop Trump sinking the 2015 accord.
However, in a dramatic reversal, Trump called North Korea’s Kim Jong-un “very honourable” as he confirmed a summit in late May or June.