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President Trump on Sunday said he has no plans to meet with the Iranian leaders at this week’s United Nations General Assembly.
“Nothing is ever off the table completely, but I have no intention of meeting with Iran,” Trump said as he departed the White House for events in Texas and Ohio before heading to New York City for the U.N. meetings.
Trump said he has about 15 meetings set up, but that Iran “is not one of them.”
The comments all but shut the door on a surprise meeting amid simmering tensions between the two countries. Trump has consistently indicated in recent weeks that he would not completely rule out a meeting with Iran’s leaders in New York City but said that it was unlikely he would have one.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told “Face the Nation” that he and Trump are “looking for a diplomatic resolution,” but added, “we’re prepared to do the things we need to do.”
The U.S. has in recent days taken additional steps to respond to the bombings of Saudi oil facilities, which administration officials have blamed on Iran.
The Trump administration on Friday morning slapped new sanctions on Iran’s central bank in response to the attacks.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper also announced Friday evening that Trump had approved the deployment of U.S. troops and missile defense equipment to Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE).
It was unclear how many troops would be deployed, but Pentagon officials signaled they would be in the region in a defensive posture to provide added security.
Iranian officials have ripped the move and asserted it will worsen tensions, which were raised last year when Trump withdrew from the Obama-era nuclear deal with Iran and reimposed sanctions.
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