Iranian President: Meeting to Discuss Outcome of Zarif’s Trip to France

“We were in contact with Mr. Zarif both before and after his trip to France and today, we would also consult with relevant officials in a meeting,” Rouhani said on Monday.

“We may go through a path that makes us 100 percent successful or not, we have to do our job… even when the probability of our success is 10 or 20 percent and we should not lose opportunities,” he added.

Zarif started his tour of East Asia on Monday, a few days after he returned from a tour of four European countries, including France.

The top Iranian diplomat returned to Tehran on Friday night from a tour of Europe that took him to Finland, Sweden, Norway and France.

In a message on his Twitter account at the conclusion of the European trip, Zarif said he held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and with Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Paris “despite US efforts to destroy diplomacy.”

He also highlighted the necessity for efforts to preserve multilateralism.

Zarif also made a flying visit for talks with host France at the G7 summit on Sunday, as Paris ramped up efforts to ease tensions between Tehran and Washington.

He flew to the southwest French town of Biarritz where the Group of Seven leaders were meeting.

He held more than three hours of talks, including with Macron, before heading back to Tehran.

“Iran's active diplomacy in pursuit of constructive engagement continues. Met @EmmanuelMacron on sidelines of #G7Biarritz after extensive talks with @JY_LeDrian & Finance Min. followed by a joint briefing for UK/Germany. Road ahead is difficult. But worth trying,” he tweeted later.

“The discussions that were held between the president and Zarif were positive and will continue,” a French official said after the meeting, declining to take detailed questions.