France's President Emmanuel Macron will meet with his Iranian counterpart at the UN Wednesday as efforts to avert the reimposition of deep sanctions on Tehran over its nuclear program intensify.

"Either Iran makes a gesture and goes back to the path of peace and accountability that make it possible to get back on course... or sanctions will have to be imposed," he said from the podium of the UN General Assembly Tuesday. "I'll have an occasion to meet with the president tomorrow on each of these crucial issues."