(AP) -- Jean-Yves Le Drian was bracing for tense discussions in Paris on Tuesday with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Speaking to reporters ahead of the meeting, Le Drian said he would underline France's firm commitment to the 2015 accord.

Le Drian questioned why the Trump administration is "kicking the ball back to Congress and the Europeans," when Russia and China also signed the deal.

Trump has threatened to abandon the deal this spring unless it is fixed to his liking, and Tillerson is in Europe this week seeking support for tough new penalties against Iran that could prevent a U.S. withdrawal.

(Photo: U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, left, shakes hands with French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian before a meeting in Paris, Tuesday Jan. 23, 2018. Tillerson holds talks on the war in Syria and other regional issues with Le Drian. Pool via AP)