Thread by @JenniferJJacobs

SCOOP: Trump and top advisers on Monday in Oval discussed easing sanctions on Iran to help secure a mtg with Iran’s Rouhani at UNGA. Mnuchin voiced support. Bolton argued forcefully against. Trump accepted Bolton’s resignation next day.

Story soon by me, @SalehaMohsin @jendeben

BREAKING: In mtg Monday in Oval, Trump discussed easing sanctions on Iran to help secure a meeting with Iran’s Rouhani later.

Mnuchin wanted to. Bolton did not. Trump leaning.

Pompeo later said Trump would meet with Rouhani, but with “no preconditions.”
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Preparations are underway for possible Trump mtg with Rouhani in NYC on sidelines of United Nations General Assembly week of Sept 23, sources tell me & @nwadhams.

But far from clear if Iranians would agree to mtg while tough US sanctions remain in place.
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Trump says he has “five” people who want to replace Bolton as national security adviser and “want it very much.”

“We’ll be announcing somebody next week,” he says in Oval.

Asked if he’s looking at a meeting at the UN general assembly with Iran’s Rouhani, Trump in Oval said: “I’m not looking at anything.”

But he says he does believe they’d like to make a deal; if they they do that’s great, if they don’t that’s great.

per @Jordanfabian

Asked if he may EASE SANCTIONS ON IRAN to persuade Rouhani to meet with him, Trump in Oval doesn’t rule it out.

We’ll see what happens, Trump answered.

Q: Sea change since Bolton left?

Mnuchin, in WH gaggle: “No sea change. I've been perfectly clear, Pompeo & I have been executing the president's maximum pressure campaign with Rouhani. President Trump has said he would sit down with Rouhani with no conditions."

per @asebenius

Trump says national security adviser is an easy job.

"You know why it's easy? Because I make all of the decisions—you don't have to work,” he said on South Lawn.

(NSA leads the National Security Council, a sprawling organization that takes a strong leader to organize/run.)