Trump: Despite ‘requests,’ no plans to meet ‘absolutely lovely’ Iranian president

President Trump said in an early morning tweet on Tuesday said that he had no plans to meet Hassan Rouhani at the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly this week, despite unspecified “requests,” adding that he is sure the Iranian president is an “absolutely lovely man.” 

“Despite requests, I have no plans to meet Iranian President Hassan Rouhani,” Trump tweeted. “Maybe someday in the future. I am sure he is an absolutely lovely man!” 

Despite requests, I have no plans to meet Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Maybe someday in the future. I am sure he is an absolutely lovely man!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 25, 2018

{mosads}Rouhani said Monday that he will not meet with Trump during his visit to New York City for the U.N. gathering, citing sanctions the U.S. has placed on Iran. 

“Naturally, if someone is keen on having a meeting and holding dialogue and creating progress in relationships, that person would not use the tool of sanctions and threats [and bring] to bear all of its power against another government and nation,” Rouhani said in a Monday interview with NBC News. 

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a Sunday interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that Trump was willing to meet with Rouhani.

“I think the president’s been pretty clear about that,” Pompeo said. “He’s happy to talk with folks at any time.”

The U.S. in the past several months has ramped up a pressure campaign against the government in Tehran, denouncing it as corrupt and offering support for protesters on the ground. 

Rouhani has cited Trump’s exit from the Iranian nuclear deal as the main source of tension between the two countries.

The Obama-era nuclear deal rolled back sanctions against Tehran in exchange for a reduction in the country’s nuclear abilities.   

The U.S. reimposed some sanctions on Iran in August, and more are looming in November.