A grave error’: Emmanuel Macron hits back at Trump over Iran nuclear deal

Hours after the US President branded the 2015 deal “embarassing” and suggested he might withdraw the US from the pact, his French counterpart defended the accord and said it was “essential” to keeping the peace. 

Mr Macron told the UN General Assembly: “Renouncing it would be a grave error, not respecting it would be irresponsible, because it is a good accord that is essential to peace at a time where the risk of a conflagration cannot be excluded.”

The row is the latest disagreement between Mr Macron and Mr Trump who have clashed repeatedly since coming to power. 

Earlier Mr Trump cast doubt over America’s continued participation in the agreement, forged by the P5+1 world powers of Britain, China, France, Russia and the US, plus Germany and the EU. 

Under the deal, Tehran agreed to restrict its nuclear programme in return for Western countries loosening economic sanctions.

The accord comes up for renewal next month – but the US President made it clear he is less than impressed with the terms. 

Making his UN debut, the combative Republican called the deal “an embarrassment”. 

The US President said: “I don’t think you’ve heard the last of it.”

Mr Trump then called Iran an “economically depleted rogue state” that exports violence, to the widespread dismay of the assembled diplomats from 193 different nations. 

Speaking to CNN before his maiden UN speech, Mr Macron said the current situation in North Korea was a perfect example of why the Iran deal was important. 

Mr Macron said: “North Korea is a very good illustration of a ‘what if’ regarding Iran.

“Why? Because we stopped everything with North Korea years and years ago. 

“We stopped any monitoring, any discussions with them, and what’s the result? They will probably get a nuclear weapon. I don’t want to replicate that situation with Iran.”

Iranian president Hassan Rouhan has responded to the US President’s comments, warning his country “does not tolerate threats from anyone”.

Mr Rouhan condemned Mr Trump’s combative speech as “ignorant, absurd and hateful rhetoric” and said Iran would not be intimidated by threats as he promised to stick with the nuclear accord.

He said: “I declare before you that the Islamic Republic of Iran will not be the first country to violate the agreement.

“Iran will respond decisively and resolutely to a violation of the accord by any party.”

And in a sideswipe at Mr Trump, who described Iran as a “rogue” state, the Iranian President said: “It will be a great pity if this agreement were to be destroyed by ‘rogue’ newcomers to the world of politics: the world will have lost a great opportunity.” 

US officials have sent mixed signals about the nuclear agreement hammered out two years ago by Trump’s predeccessor Barak Obama. 

On Wednesday, US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said Mr Trump’s speech indicated his unhappiness but not a decision to abandon the accord.

She told CBS news: “It’s not a clear signal that he plans to withdraw. What it is, is a clear signal that he’s not happy with the deal.”

Mr Trump meanwhile told reporters on Wednesday he had already decided whether to keep the US in the deal or not, but refused to elaborate on his decision.