Donald Trump says he knew Iranian foreign minister was going to G7 talks

US President says French leader Emmanuel Macron sought his approval to invite Javad Zarif

US President Donald Trump speaks during a bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Biarritz, south-west France on August 26, 2019, on the third day of the annual G7 Summit. / AFP / Nicholas Kamm
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US President Donald Trump insisted he knew that  Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif would attend G7 talks and said French leader Emmanuel Macron sought his approval before inviting the minister.

Mr Trump said the G7 countries had had “great unity” in their talks about Tehran and appeared to leave the door open to diplomatic talks with Iran.

Mr Zarif, who has been sanctioned by the US, unexpectedly flew into France on Sunday. The Iranian economy is struggling after the US reimposed sanctions  after pulling out of a pivotal 2015 nuclear deal that put limits on  the enrichment of Tehran.

Tensions have soared between the two countries and  European heavyweights, who did not support  the withdrawal of Washington from the 2015 agreement, have tried to mediate.

"I knew [Zarif] was coming in and I respected the fact that he was coming in. We're looking to make Iran rich again, let them be rich, let them do well, if they want," Mr Trump said.

Initial reports said the US president had been very angry over  the attendance of Iran at the talks in Biarritz, France.

“He spoke to me, he asked me, I said if you want to do that, that’s OK,” Mr Trump said in reference to Mr Macron.

"I don't consider that disrespectful at all, especially when he asks me for approval," he said at a Monday morning meeting with  Egyptian president, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

Mr Zarif has since left France for China.

While Mr Trump said there had been a united stance on Iran,  Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel  gave a warning that there was still some way to go.

But there was an agreement that Iran could not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons.

"We've come to a conclusion, more or less. But the biggest part of the conclusion: They can't have nuclear weapons," Mr Trump said.

Ms Merkel said the "firm will to talk" was a sign of progress and added it was positive that there was support for a political solution.

“There is an atmosphere at this summit in which talks are welcome, talks of Europe with Iran and especially of France with Iran,” she said. “This happens in coordination with the U.S. and that’s already a lot.”

She did not reveal if Mr Trump was prepared to accommodate any move toward alleviating sanctions against Iran.