New U.S. Sanctions on Iran Set Back French Mediation Efforts

The Trump administration cast new doubt Wednesday on efforts by France to ease tensions between the U.S. and Iran as Washington sanctioned what it called an Iranian “oil-for-terror” exporting network.

The comments from President Trump and top members of his administration could well end efforts by French President Emmanuel Macron to provide Tehran with sanctions relief and keep the country from pulling out of the 2015 nuclear accord.

However, Mr. Trump said that he might meet with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani later this month when world leaders gather for the United Nations General Assembly meeting.

“Anything’s possible,” Mr. Trump said in response to a reporter’s question. “They would like to be able to solve their problem. They’ve got a big problem. They are getting killed financially.”

Iran’s leaders have demanded relief from sanctions before any meeting; the Trump administration has said it wouldn’t consider lifting sanctions without a new agreement. “That’s not happening,” Mr. Trump said.

Read the full article and more in The Wall Street Journal.