Trump tells Paris, Berlin to 'keep making money' via trade with Iran
US President Donald Trump said in an interview aired on Sunday he does not object to France and Germany continuing trade with Iran, despite his refusal to certify the Iran nuclear deal.
"I told them just keep making money," the real estate mogul-turned-president told the Fox News programme Sunday Morning Futures. "Don't worry. You just keep making money."
"They are friends of mine. They really are. I get along with all of them. Whether it's Emmanuel or Angela," Trump said, referring to French President Emmanuel Macron and the German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
"I don't know what's going to happen with that deal," Trump said of the landmark 2015 accord, which on 13 October he refused to certify, leaving the pact's fate to US Congress.
"When they buy those things, it is a little harder," Trump said of French and German commercial dealings with Iran. "I told them just keep making money. Don't worry. We don't need you on this one."
The European Union has meanwhile expressed determination to preserve the Iran deal, with several leaders considering it essential to convincing North Korea to come to the negotiating table over its own nuclear programme.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Friday the Trump administration does not intend to disrupt European commerce with Iran.
"The president's been pretty clear that it's not his intent to interfere with business deals that the Europeans may have underway with Iran," Tillerson told The Wall Street Journal.
Stay informed with MEE's newsletters
Sign up to get the latest alerts, insights and analysis, starting with Turkey Unpacked
Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.
