French energy giant Total joined other European companies in signalling they could exit Iran, casting doubt on whether European leaders meeting to try to salvage the Iran nuclear deal can safeguard trade with Tehran.

President Donald Trump’s withdrawal of the United States from the nuclear accord and his order that sanctions be reimposed on Tehran have left European allies scrambling to keep the deal alive and protect their Iranian trade.

EU leaders gathered in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia for their first meeting on the matter since Trump quit the accord. But US clout in international trade and finance limits their scope for action.

Total said it might quit a multi-billion-dollar gas project if it could not secure a waiver from US sanctions. Tehran had repeatedly hailed the project as a symbol of success.