Trump says Canada and Iran both want a deal

U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday that Canada and Iran have something in common: both want a deal. He made the remarks to reporters in Dublin before travelling to his golf course in western Ireland.

Asked whether the United States planned to withdraw from the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, Trump linked Canada’s trade situation to negotiations between Iran and the United States to end a war that began in February, when the U.S. and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran.

Trump said Canada wants an agreement “very badly,” as does Iran, but that he did not think either was ready. He added that he hoped Canada appreciated being mentioned in the same sentence as Iran.

Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said Friday that no formal trade talks were scheduled, although discussions between Canadian and American officials have continued. The latest formal negotiations between Canada and the United States ended Aug. 21.

Iran continues to attack some ships attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which has become an important source of leverage for Tehran in the war. The United States has introduced new measures intended to increase Iran’s economic pressure after negotiations collapsed, while no end to the intermittent fighting appears in sight.

Trump has repeatedly said Iran wants an agreement to end the conflict, though Tehran’s hardline leaders have indicated they are willing to hold their position. He said in Ireland that, at the right time, both the Canadian and Iranian agreements could happen.

Trump also met Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin during the trip. Responding to a question about Irish reunification, he said he would like to see the Republic of Ireland reunified with the United Kingdom’s Northern Ireland.

A protest march drew thousands to central Dublin, but Trump had already left the city and was travelling to his Doonbeg golf course on Ireland’s Atlantic coast when the demonstration began.