Calling Iran deal ‘insane,’ Trump considers new pact
He and French president show warmth, divisions
WASHINGTON – President Trump vowed Tuesday to look for common ground with his French counterpart in dealing with Iran but made no commitment to stick with the nuclear agreement he described as “insane” and “ridiculous.”
Receiving French President Emmanuel Macron for a state visit at the White House, Trump repeated his criticism of the agreement to freeze Iran’s nuclear program, saying it doesn’t address Tehran’s missile program or its attempts to foment unrest in the region.
And Trump issued an explicit warning to Iran as the world waits to see whether his administration pulls out of the agreement next month.
“If they restart their nuclear program, they will have bigger problems than they have ever had before,” Trump said during a meeting in the Oval Office. “You can mark it down.”
Still, he said, the U.S. and France were “beginning to understand each other” on the need to contain Iran.
Macron and other European leaders have encouraged Trump to remain in the agreement. Macron told reporters Tuesday he wants to work on a “new deal” with Iran that would build on the current agreement but also address Trump’s concerns.
Macron described discussions at the White House as “very frank.”
“It’s not a mystery we did not have the same starting positions or stances, and neither you nor I have a habit of changing our stances or going with the wind,” Macron told Trump during a news conference in the East Room.
The two leaders also said that containing Iran was the key to lasting peace in Syria. Trump has previously said he wants to bring U.S. troops home from Syria quickly but Macron has urged a longer time line. The president on Tuesday reiterated his desire for a speedy withdrawal but also injected nuance into his answer.
“As far as Syria is concerned, I would love to get out. I would love to bring our brave warriors back home,” Trump said. “Emmanuel and myself have discussed that we don’t want to give Iran open season to the Mediterranean (Sea).”
Trump said he wanted to bring troops home “relatively soon” but said “we want to leave a strong and lasting footprint.”
Throughout a heavily scripted series of meetings and ceremonies, Trump and Macron showed their close relationship through words and body language. But even as they touted what Trump called “a very special relationship,” Macron hinted at the issues dividing the countries: the Iran nuclear deal, the environment and trade.
“It is together that we will be able to act effectively for our planet,” Macron said in remarks at an opening ceremony.
After meeting with Macron, Trump said the two had more substantive talks on Iran than any other issue.
Macron said he wants to pursue a new deal with Iran that would build on the existing agreement while also limiting Tehran’s ballistic missile program.
Trump appeared to be skeptical of such an agreement.
“We’ll see,” he said, “whether or not it will be possible to do a new deal with solid foundations.”