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Rebuking Trump, French FM defends Iran mediation efforts

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian directly rebukes Trump and insists France will continue "mediation efforts" with Iran "to avert a wider conflict."
France's President Emmanuel Macron (L) shakes hands with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani as Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif (3rd R) and other members of the Iranian delegation stand next to them during an official meeting at the Millennium Hotel near the United Nations on September 18, 2017, in New York. / AFP PHOTO / LUDOVIC MARIN        (Photo credit should read LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP/Getty Images)

France’s top diplomat on Friday defended his nation’s efforts to reduce tensions with Iran, a day after US President Donald Trump took to Twitter to say the French president doesn’t speak for the United States on Iran.

Analysts said Trump’s comments could reflect efforts by Trump’s hawkish advisers to undermine French mediation efforts to try to reduce friction in the Persian Gulf and get Iran to reverse recent steps to reduce compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal.

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