France does not need the permission of other states to try to defuse tensions with Iran, its foreign minister said on Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump accused President Emmanuel Macron of sending “mixed signals” to Tehran, reports Reuters.
“France speaks for itself on Iran as a sovereign power,” foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in a written statement.
“France is deeply committed to peace and security in the region, is committed to de-escalating tensions and does not need any authorisation to do so.”
Trump on Thursday had said no one was permitted to speak to Iran on behalf of the United States, after a report this week said Macron had invited Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani to this month’s G7 summit to meet the U.S. president.
A French diplomat denied the invitation had been made.
Washington’s major European allies Britain, France and Germany have been at odds with the Trump administration over Iran since last year, when Trump pulled the United States out of an international deal to give Iran access to world trade in return for curbs to its nuclear programme.
While the Europeans say they share U.S. concerns about Iran’s regional behaviour and missile programme, they believe pulling out of the nuclear agreement was a mistake.