Trump says he hasn’t discussed G-7 outreach to Iran

President Trump on Sunday tamped down talk of a united outreach to Iran from Group of Seven (G-7) nations, saying the U.S. would do its own.

The president told reporters during the summit in Biarritz, France, that he was happy to have allies engage with Tehran and seek to ease tensions. But he disputed the notion that he’d approved of French President Emmanuel Macron sending a formal message from the G-7 members following the event.

“I haven’t discussed this. No I haven’t,” Trump said.{mosads}

The comments came after the French president said the G-7 member nations had agreed on a message to Iran that contained the group’s unified objectives. The topic of how to approach Iran has been divisive since Trump pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal while other G-7 allies remained committed to the pact. 

“We’ll do our own outreach, but, you know, I can’t stop people from talking. If they want to talk, they can talk,” Trump said.

Trump was critical earlier this month of Macron’s efforts to mediate. He complained that the French president and other leaders were sending Iran “mixed signals” by purporting to negotiate on behalf of the U.S.

“I know Emmanuel means well, as do all others, but nobody speaks for the United States but the United States itself. No one is authorized in any way, shape, or form, to represent us!” Trump tweeted.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has also attempted to serve as an intermediary between the U.S. and Iran.

The Trump administration has taken a hard-line approach toward Iran, hammering the country with sanctions in an effort to cripple its economy.

Trump has repeatedly claimed that Iran would like to negotiate a new nuclear deal, but there is no evidence that the two sides are close to coming to the table. The U.S. does not have a permanent envoy to Iran, and it recently sanctioned the Iranian foreign minister.