While negotiations between Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and France’s Emmanuel Macron are showing signs of a breakthrough, U.S.-Iran relations have deteriorated.

Though Macron insists Rouhani may enter talks with President Trump soon, the broader trajectory of Washington’s relationship with Tehran over the past three years has been away from effective negotiations. The blame for this deterioration rests squarely with the Trump administration’s policy of “maximum pressure,” spearheaded by long-time interventionist figures such as national security adviser John Bolton.