Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has ruled out any early meeting with US President Donald Trump, again reiterating demands that Washington must first remove crippling sanctions against his country, writes Nassir Shirkhani.

The sanctions have particularly hit the Iranian oil industry by making it difficult for Tehran to sell its oil to major clients in Asia and Europe.

Rouhani’s comments came amid diplomatic efforts in New York to set up a meeting between the two presidents during the United Nations General Assembly.