POLITICO: Rouhani Backs-off Deal for Talks with Trump

POLITICO claims it has seen a document between the U.S. and Iran that was brokered by French President Emmanuel Macron that would have resulted in talks between Presidents Trump and Rouhani. According to POLITICO, the deal fell apart when Rouhani got cold feet and would not move until President Trump announces that American sanctions would be lifted. In addition to lifting sanctions, the U.S. was apparently also willing to agree to Iran selling its oil and pursuing international commerce – the two major points Tehran had insisted the Europeans deliver in order to replace the U.S. after Washington pulled out of the 2015 nuclear agreement. Iran was to declare it would never create a nuclear weapon and that it would abide by nuclear obligations and would re-negotiate a long-term commitment. A phone call between the two presidents in which the deal would be announced was cancelled by Rouhani reportedly after President Trump had accepted the deal.