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For Macron, a Warm Embrace Before Trump Assails the Iran Nuclear Deal Trump Signals Openness to a ‘New Deal’ to Constrain Iran
(about 7 hours later)
WASHINGTON — President Trump on Tuesday decried the nuclear agreement with Iran as a “terrible deal” that failed to restrain threats from Tehran, but said he would use formal meetings with President Emmanuel Macron of France to discuss whether to preserve it. WASHINGTON — President Trump signaled on Tuesday that he was open to a new arrangement with European allies that would preserve the Iran nuclear agreement by expanding and extending its terms to further constrain Tehran’s development of weapons and destabilizing activities in the Middle East.
“We made this terrible deal, but we’re going to discuss it,” Mr. Trump said, sitting beside Mr. Macron in the Oval Office on Tuesday at the start of the first state visit of the Trump era. Hosting President Emmanuel Macron of France at the White House, Mr. Trump again assailed the agreement sealed by his predecessor as a “terrible deal” but said he could agree to “a new deal” negotiated by American and European officials if it was strong enough. He made no commitment, however, leaving it open whether he will pull out of the agreement by a May 12 deadline.
“It’s insane. It’s ridiculous,” Mr. Trump said of the 2015 nuclear accord, which lifted sanctions in exchange for restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program. “It should never have been made, but we will be talking about it.” “Nobody knows what I’m going to do on the 12th, although Mr. President, you have a pretty good idea,” he said, turning to Mr. Macron, who winked at him in silent reply. “But we’ll see. But we’ll see also if I do what some people expect, whether or not it will be possible to do a new deal with solid foundations. Because this is a deal with decayed foundations. It’s a bad deal. It’s a bad structure. It’s falling down. It should have never, ever been made.”
He criticized the agreement because it did not deal with ballistic missiles or Iran’s activities in places like Yemen or Syria, and issued an ominous warning to Iran against resuming its nuclear program. Mr. Trump signaled more optimism about a possible accord with North Korea in advance of a summit meeting anticipated to take place by early June. He even praised its leader, Kim Jong-un, in unusually positive terms.
“If they restart their nuclear program, they will have bigger problems than they ever had before,” Mr. Trump said. “We’re having very, very good discussions,” Mr. Trump said. “Kim Jong-un, he really has been very open and I think very honorable from everything we’re seeing.”
Mr. Macron, who plans to lobby Mr. Trump during his visit not to abandon the accord, said the discussions would go beyond the agreement itself and focus on a broader containment strategy for Iran. Mr. Trump’s description of the North Korean leader rankled critics, who quickly pointed out that the country has one of the most authoritarian systems in the world, known for its harsh prison camps and repressive control over nearly every aspect of society. The president has previously denounced Mr. Kim as a “madman,” nicknamed him “Little Rocket Man,” derided him as “short and fat” and threatened to rain down “fire and fury” if he threatened the United States.
“The Iran deal is an important issue, but we have to take a far broader picture, which is security in the overall region,” Mr. Macron said. “What we want to do is to contain Iran and its presence in the region.” But Mr. Trump repeated his vow to walk away from the talks if they did not prove fruitful. “Unlike past administrations, I will leave the table,” he said. “But I think we have a chance of doing something very special with respect to North Korea. Good for them, good for us, good for everybody.”
The comments on Iran came on a day of pomp and ceremony, as Mr. Trump rolled out the red carpet for Mr. Macron and praised their warm relationship before meetings that will touch on crucial disagreements. Mr. Trump would not elaborate on what he meant when asked by a reporter, but instead repeated his hopes for a deal while denying that he had given up anything before the meeting. “We have made no concessions despite some of the media saying that I’ve made concessions,” he said. “I haven’t even discussed a concession, other than the fact that meeting is a great thing.”
“The wonderful friendship we have developed over the last year is a testament to the enduring friendship that binds our two nations,” Mr. Trump said, standing on the South Lawn of the White House with Mr. Macron and their wives at an elaborate welcome ceremony. “Your visit, Mr. President, comes at a critical time for our alliance.” One of Mr. Macron’s goals in visiting Washington was to persuade Mr. Trump not to scrap the Iran nuclear deal while American and European negotiators seek to create side agreements intended to further restrain Tehran.
He noted that the French, along with the British, had joined the United States earlier this month in a military strike in Syria in response to the Assad government’s use of chemical weapons on its own people. He thanked Mr. Macron and the French people for “their steadfast partnership.” Negotiators have reached a consensus on how to punish Iran if it tests long-range ballistic missiles, but remain divided on extending the limits on its nuclear program beyond the expiration dates in the original agreement, according to people briefed on the discussions.
That issue is expected to come up in formal meetings between Mr. Trump and Mr. Macron and their aides later Tuesday, along with the dispute over the Iran deal.. In his talks with Mr. Trump, Mr. Macron emphasized that, while imperfect, the Iran nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or J.C.P.O.A., should not be tossed aside but instead become one pillar of a broader agreement.
“It is together,” Mr. Macron said during the morning ceremony, “that we will counter the proliferation of arms of massive destruction, be it in North Korea or Iran.” “I’ve never been as critical of the J.C.P.O.A. as President Trump has, because I believe we can add to it,” Mr. Macron said. “But not knowing the decision President Trump will take, I would like us to work on a deal to build on what has already been accomplished on the J.C.P.O.A., which is beyond the current activities, the ballistic activities and the regional influence.”
He also alluded to Mr. Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accords, another point of tension in the relationship. Iran’s security chief warned on Tuesday that his country would consider leaving the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, if Mr. Trump pulls out from the separate J.C.P.O.A., which Iran signed in 2015 with President Barack Obama and the leaders of five other major powers.
The official, Ali Shamkhani, said signatories to the nonproliferation treaty have the right to leave it if they “feel their national interests are not intertwined” with the accord. “This is one possibility for the Islamic Republic,” he said during a news conference, aired on state television.
Publicly, Iranian officials have been threatening to start enriching uranium if the United States torpedoes the 2015 nuclear agreement. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, which monitors the agreement, Iran has not violated its terms.
Iran is an early signatory of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and its leaders have often threatened to pull out of it, but have never followed up.
“What Shamkhani said is a bluff,” said Davoud Hermidas-Bavand, an Iranian professor of international law and a former diplomat. “As long as the European Union supports the nuclear deal and Russia and China are endorsing Iran and the deal, there is no point to withdraw for Iran,” he said. “Even if Iran withdraws from the deal, then Iran practically cannot go back to high enrichment of uranium simply because Iran is not allowed to do so and such a move will invite military confrontation.”
During his meeting with Mr. Macron on Tuesday, Mr. Trump warned Iran against resuming its nuclear activities if the United States does pull out. “If they restart their nuclear program, they will have bigger problems than they ever had before,” Mr. Trump said.
The comments came on a day of pomp and ceremony, as Mr. Trump rolled out the red carpet for Mr. Macron and praised their warm relationship. The two embraced warmly and kissed each other on the cheek. In one odd moment, Mr. Trump even brushed what he said was dandruff off Mr. Macron’s jacket in the Oval Office. “We have to make him perfect,” Mr. Trump said, adding, “He is perfect.”
For the first official state visit of his presidency, Mr. Trump hosted a traditional arrival ceremony on the South Lawn, complete with military bands, color guards, a fife-and-drum corps and a 21-gun salute.
“The wonderful friendship we have developed over the last year is a testament to the enduring friendship that binds our two nations,” Mr. Trump said with Mr. Macron and their wives at the ceremony. “Your visit, Mr. President, comes at a critical time for our alliance.”
He noted that the French, along with the British, had joined the United States this month in a military strike in Syria in response to a suspected chemical weapons attack blamed on the government of President Bashar al-Assad. He thanked Mr. Macron and the French people for “their steadfast partnership.”
Mr. Macron returned the friendly words. “It is together,” Mr. Macron said during the morning ceremony, “that we will counter the proliferation of arms of massive destruction, be it in North Korea or Iran.”
He also alluded to Mr. Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate change accord, another point of tension in the relationship.
“It is together that we will be able to act effectively for our planet,” Mr. Macron said. “On this issue, we do not always agree as to the solutions, but in the end, such is the case in any family and in any friendship, and it is also where the fate of our children is at stake.”“It is together that we will be able to act effectively for our planet,” Mr. Macron said. “On this issue, we do not always agree as to the solutions, but in the end, such is the case in any family and in any friendship, and it is also where the fate of our children is at stake.”
Before the men spoke, the strains of military marches and patriotic songs provided a festive backdrop as Mr. Trump led Mr. Macron on a review of American troops in front of the White House, showing off dress uniforms — some in traditional Revolutionary garb — and shiny weapons. It is something of a reciprocal gesture for the grand Bastille Day military parade Mr. Trump attended last summer in Paris as Mr. Macron’s guest.Before the men spoke, the strains of military marches and patriotic songs provided a festive backdrop as Mr. Trump led Mr. Macron on a review of American troops in front of the White House, showing off dress uniforms — some in traditional Revolutionary garb — and shiny weapons. It is something of a reciprocal gesture for the grand Bastille Day military parade Mr. Trump attended last summer in Paris as Mr. Macron’s guest.
Later on Tuesday, the president and the first lady, Melania Trump, will host Mr. Macron and his wife Brigitte at an opulent state dinner featuring rack of lamb and jambalaya, with nectarine tart for dessert. Later on Tuesday, the president and the first lady, Melania Trump, will host Mr. Macron and his wife, Brigitte, at an opulent state dinner featuring rack of lamb and jambalaya, with nectarine tart for dessert.