Iran’s President has closed the door on meeting Donald Trump despite last-minute European efforts to ease tensions as the United States again ramped up punishing sanctions.

French President Emmanuel Macron had shuttled between his US and Iranian counterparts over two days at the United Nations, trying to arrange a historic encounter that he hoped could reduce the risk of all-out war in the Middle East.

But Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, addressing the UN General Assembly, said on Wednesday he would refuse talks so long as the United States maintains its economic pressure.

“I would like to announce that our response to any negotiation under sanctions is negative,” Rouhani said.He dismissed the idea of a photo-op with Trump, who is fond of drama and held three made-for-television meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

He doubted the sincerity of the Trump administration to negotiate, pointing to officials’ boasts of applying “the harshest sanctions in history” against Iran.

“How can someone believe them when the silent killing of a great nation, and pressure on the lives of 83 million Iranians, especially women and children, are welcomed by American government officials?” “The Iranian nation will never, ever forget and forgive these crimes and these criminals,” he said.

Trump had already ruled out easing economic pressure and, hours before Rouhani’s speech, his administration said it was stepping up sanctions.

In a proclamation posted on the White House website Wednesday, Trump authorised the restriction and suspension of entry of senior Iranian government officials and their immediate family into the United States, calling Tehran “a state sponsor of terrorism.”

“Given that this behaviour threatens peace and stability in the Middle East and beyond, I have determined that it is in the interest of the United States to take action,” the proclamation said.

On Trump’s last scheduled day at the annual UN summit of world leaders, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States would punish Chinese companies and their chief executives for buying Iranian oil.

“We’re telling China, and all nations know that we will sanction every violation of sanctionable activity,” Pompeo told a pressure group opposed to Iran’s clerical regime on the sidelines of the United Nations.

“This is one of the largest sanctions actions the United States has taken against entities and individuals identified as transporting Iranian oil since our sanctions were re-imposed in November 2018,” Pompeo said in a statement.

“This action is aimed to deny the Iranian regime critical income to engage in foreign conflicts, advance its ballistic missile development, and fund terror around the world,” he said.