Obama, Hollande tackle tenuous diplomatic efforts

WASHINGTON (AP) — Juggling a pair of tenuous diplomatic efforts, President Barack Obama on Tuesday vowed to come down like “a ton of bricks” on businesses that violate Iranian sanctions while nuclear negotiations are underway. He also conceded “enormous frustration” with stalled Syrian peace talks and offered little hope of ending the conflict soon.

Obama spoke during a joint White House news conference with French President Francois Hollande, a key partner on both Syria and Iran. The leaders have aimed to project a united front on the two matters, but a trip to Tehran last week by French executives has irked U.S. officials who are seeking to tamp down the notion that a temporary easing of sanctions opened Iran up for business.