Trump says not looking to meet Iran's Rouhani at UN meeting
Trump said he never rule anything out but he'd prefer not meeting him.
ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he is not looking to meet Iranian President Hassan Rouhani during a United Nations event at the end of the month, as tensions between the two countries rise over U.S. accusations Iran was behind an attack on oil plants in Saudi Arabia.
"I m not looking to meet him. I don t think they re ready yet but they ll be ready," Trump said. "I never rule anything out but I d prefer not meeting him."
Rouhani said on Monday he would not meet Trump at the U.N. General Assembly in New York.
Iran supreme leader rules out negotiations with US
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday ruled out negotiations with the US, as tensions mount between the arch-foes after Washington blamed Tehran for attacks on Saudi oil installations.
"The policy of ‘maximum pressure’ against the Iranian nation is worthless and all Islamic Republic of Iran officials unanimously believe there will be no negotiations with the US at any level," he said, quoted on his official website.
The White House said on Sunday that US President Donald Trump could meet Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week.
Tehran and Washington have been at loggerheads since May last year when Trump withdrew from a 2015 nuclear deal and began reimposing crippling sanctions.
Iran responded by scaling back its commitments under the landmark accord, which gave it the promise of sanctions relief in return for curbs on its nuclear programme.
The UN General Assembly debate opens on September 24.
