Trump says he’s willing to meet Iran’s Rouhani; Israel is worried

The Iranian president has said he would travel anywhere to meet if it will help his country.

By Associated Press

U.S. President Donald Trump says he’d meet with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani if the right circumstances exist to resolve the nuclear standoff with Tehran.

On Monday, at the Group of Seven summit in France, Trump said he won’t ease sanctions ahead of a possible meeting with the Iranians or provide compensation if Iran agrees to certain conditions. But Tehran “may need some money to get over a very rough patch” caused by U.S. economic sanctions, he added.

Senior Israeli ministers expressed concerned with this development, reported Times of Israel, with one minister quoted on Israeli TV as saying that Israel has “no interest in negotiations between the U.S. and Iran,” and that Israel’s ability to influence Trump on this matter is limited.

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed hope for a meeting between Trump Rouhani in the coming weeks.

Macron has discussed how several countries could possibly craft a “letter of credit” to Iran, secured by its oil, Trump said. However, any credit extended to Iran would expire and would have to be paid back quickly, according to the American president.

Rouhani has said he would travel anywhere to meet if it will help his country.