Macron says Trump, Rouhani know conditions for talks, but up to them to deliver
French President EmmanuelMacronsaid on Tuesday thathe believed that theconditionsfor the leaders of the United States and Iran to meet were now in place, but the ball was now in their court to make it happen.
"I believe that theconditionsin this context for a rapid return to negotiations have been created,"Macrontold reporters before heading back to Paris from New York, where he attended the annual United Nations General Assembly.
"It's nowupto the Iranians and the United States to seize theseconditionsand work together to relaunch momentum", he added.
The French leader has been pushing to defuse tensions between Washington and Tehran over the last few weeks, especially after an attack on Saudi oil facilities on September 14. that the United States, Europe, and Saudi Arabia have blamed on Iran.
Macronused two days of shuffle diplomacy at the United Nations to try to bring USPresident DonaldTrumpand Iranian President HassanRouhaniface-to-face or at the very least getthemto engage, fearing that a new incident could inflame the region.
But, withRouhanidemanding that the US lift tough sanctions that have strangled its economy and Washington refusing to do so until Iran comes to the table withoutconditions, the chances of a breakthrough still appear slim, even if the two leaders are still in New York on Wednesday.
"There is a common desire to progress and to not just find the terms of deescalation, but build a long-term accord,"Macronsaid. "But it depends on the will of both sides."
Macronsaid the parameters of thetalkswere to ensure that Iran can never acquire a nuclear weapon, end Yemen's civil war, develop a plan for regional security that includes other crises in the region, ensure maritime flows in the Strait of Hormuz and lift economic sanctions.
But whileMacronsaid that those were theconditions, there appeared little to suggest that either side had agreed to take the next step.
"I think that lifting of sanctions on the part of the Americans without any visibility on the other subjects is not possible,"Macronsaid.
"At the same time, clear commitments from Iran on the points I mentioned are not possible without American commitments", he added.
When asked whether he thought that they could still meet this week,Macronurged the two leaders to not miss the chance.
"I don't think in the coming weeks and months there will be an opportunity for him (Rouhani) to come back to the US, and I don't think PresidentTrumpwill be going to Tehran," he said.
"It's a physical opportunity to seize because I think the best way to start a negotiation is to have a meeting, have a frank discussion between the two main protagonists,"Macronsaid.