Economics
Trump Discussed Easing Iran Sanctions, Prompting Bolton Pushback
- Sanctions move aimed at securing Rouhani meeting this month
- Bolton was key architect of ‘maximum pressure’ campaign
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President Donald Trump discussed easing sanctions on Iran to help secure a meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani later this month, prompting then-National Security Advisor John Bolton to argue forcefully against such a step, according to three people familiar with the matter.
After an Oval Office meeting on Monday when the idea came up, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin voiced his support for the move as a way to restart negotiations with Iran, some of the people said. Later in the day, Trump decided to oust Bolton, whose departure was announced Tuesday.