Approach to Iran exposes growing irritation between U.S. and allies
By Karen DeYoung October 14 at 6:49 PM
Just before President Trump announced on Friday that he would decertify the Iran nuclear deal, French President Emmanuel Macron called his counterpart in Tehran to offer reassurance, Macron’s office said in a statement. No matter what Trump said, he told Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Europe would continue to back the agreement.
The Europeans were only interested in Iran’s money, Trump scoffed to reporters later that day. Macron, he said, had also called him.
“I said: ‘Look, Emmanuel, they just gave Renault a lot of money,’ ” Trump related, referring to a recent business deal between Iran and the French carmaker. “ ‘Take their money; enjoy yourselves. But we’ll see what happens.’”
What has already happened is a widening chasm of mutual disdain between the United States and its traditional allies. Trump sees them as self-interested freeloaders who must be reminded of U.S. power. They see him as an erratic force who must be managed as he squanders American leadership.
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https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/approach-to-iran-exposes-growing-mutual-disdain-between-us-and-allies/2017/10/14/cc4dc7fe-b053-11e7-be94-fabb0f1e9ffb_story.html