Iran's Rouhani blames Trump for failed France bid to initiate contact

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday blamed his US counterpart Donald Trump for failure of French efforts to initiate a historic phone call between m last week at United Nations. Islamic republic is prepared "to hold fruitful negotiations", he told Iranian cabinet, referring to two days of diplomatic efforts by French President Emmanuel Macron. 

"From my point of view, path (to dialogue) remains clear,", he said in a speech carried on state television, thanking French leer. France's efforts at UN General Assembly in New York "could have been acceptable, in a certain way", he said. "If anyone tried to prevent (contact taking place), it was White House and body else". 

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While diplomatic efforts were in full swing, " American president on two occasions" in of 24 hours "clearly anunced an intensification of sanctions against Iran", said Rouhani. 

US President’s phone call 

"I said to our European friends: it's good but who should we believe? Should we believe what you are saying, that America is rey (to lift sanctions), or what US president is saying?" Trump phoned Rouhani on sidelines of UN summit but he refused to take call, a French diplomatic source said Tuesday.  

call on September 24, source said, came after Macron h shuttled between US and Iranian leers in a bid to arrange a historic encounter that he hoped would reduce risk of all-out war in Middle East. 

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"In New York, up to last moment, Emmanuel Macron tried to broker contact, as his talks with presidents Trump and Rouhani led him to think contact was possible," diplomatic source said. 

source said Macron me a last-ditch attempt before flying back to Paris, with French technicians installing a secure phone line linking Trump's Lotte hotel and Millennium, hosting Iranian delegation.  

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Tensions between Tehran and Washington 

Macron went to Millennium to ensure phone call took place. Trump me call, but Rouhani informed French president he would t take it, source said. Speculation was abuzz last month that leers could meet on sidelines of General Assembly. But Rouhani stressed he would only hold talks with US if Trump lifted ecomic sanctions on Iran. Tensions between Tehran and Washington, which severed diplomatic ties in aftermath of 1979 revolution, have been escalating since May 2018 when Trump pulled out of a landmark nuclear accord and began reimposing sanctions that have crippled Iranian ecomy. 

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