President Donald Trump said on Monday that Iran and North Korea have "tremendous potential" he hoped to help them achieve should they reach deals with the United States.
Trump made the remarks Monday at the G7 summit in the French city of Biarritz, where he was joined by fellow leaders from Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif too arrived in the city for separate consultations with France that were apparently welcomed by Trump.
"I'm looking to have a really good Iran, really strong, we're not looking for a regime change, you've seen how that works over the last 20 years, that hasn't been too good, we're looking to make Iran rich again. Let them be rich, let them do well, if they want, or they can be poor as can be," Trump said as he spoke alongside his Egyptian counterpart.
The president made similar remarks at a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron, saying he had "very good feelings" about a potential deal with Iran. Trump added: "It's a country with tremendous potential, I also say that, by the way, about North Korea."
Noting North Korea's strategic location near South Korea, China and Russia, the U.S. leader said Monday that "North Korea has tremendous economic potential and I think that Kim Jong Un sees that, he would be the leader and I think that he sees the tremendous potential that its got."
"With respect to Iran, same thing. Iran has incredible people, an incredible country potentially, location that's a little rough neighborhood, but eventually, it's going to be a beautiful neighborhood, I think it's going to work out," Trump said.
He also said it was "realistic" that he could begin sit down for talks with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in a matter of weeks, saying "I think he's going to want to meet, I think Iran wants to get their situation straightened out." He continued: "Now is that based on fact or based on gut, it's based on gut but they want to get their situation straightened out."
Back in Tehran, Rouhani hinted that he may accept such an offer if deemed to be in Iran's best interests. Without mentioning Trump by name, the Iranian leader said during a conference Monday that "if I am to meet someone and that meeting would solve the problems my country, I will not hesitate to do so because it is in the principle of national interest."
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https://www.newsweek.com/trump-iran-north-korea-rich-1456213