Trump does not want to sign G7 declaration on Iran

Trump does not want to sign G7 declaration on Iran

CALGARY, Alberta — President Donald Trump has no intention of signing a joint statement calling for de-escalation between Israel and Iran, drafted by G7 leaders in Canada. CNN learned this from a person familiar with the matter. Still, officials preparing the document were hopeful that he might eventually be persuaded to add his name.

Contents of the draft document

The draft document, pushed by European officials during the summit, says Israel has the right to defend itself and that Iran cannot acquire nuclear weapons.

Conflicts between Trump and other G7 leaders

Trump's decision not to commit to the declaration caused immediate tensions among his counterparts as the summit began in the Canadian Rockies. Hours before the start of the conference, discussions took place among the G7 delegations about the wording in the draft.

European efforts to reach consensus

European officials, led by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, had hoped to reach consensus on the situation in the Middle East, along with the summit host, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. But Trump, who has questioned the usefulness of multilateral organizations like the G7, plans to withhold his signature for now, preventing the world's leading democracies from acting as a united front for now.

White House reaction

A White House official said of Trump's plans for the joint statement: "Under President Trump's strong leadership, the United States is back to lead efforts to restore peace around the world. President Trump will continue to work to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons."

Progress and uncertainties of the G7

A senior Canadian official said delegated G7 leaders would continue to work on drafting the statement, with European leaders in particular actively working toward consensus. "This is not a done deal, this is being discussed at the leadership level. We expect the bulk of these discussions to take place in the global security meeting tonight. It is too early to speculate what will emerge from these discussions," the Canadian official continued.

Trump and the conflict between Israel and Iran

Trump said Monday morning before the summit that he believes Iran wants to de-escalate the conflict with Israel, while the conflict between the two nations is now in its fourth day. "Yes," Trump replied when asked by CNN whether he had received any signals or messages from intermediaries that indicated Iran wanted to defuse the conflict. “They would like to talk, but they should have done that before.”

Ultimatum to Iran

Trump had a two-month ultimatum this spring to Iran in order to reach a nuclear deal or face consequences. On Friday — its 61st day — Israel launched an unprecedented attack on Iran, targeting its nuclear program and military leaders.

US military intervention and strategic talks

The US President refused to say what the US military intervention in the conflict could trigger. “I don’t want to talk about it,” he said, remaining vague when asked about the information the U.S. provides to Israel. Trump's counterparts at the G7 have planned to pressure the US president over his strategy for dealing with Israel and Iran as the escalating conflict in the Middle East overshadows the first day of the summit.

Differences in approach to Putin

Already well-known differences of opinion have emerged between Trump and Macron over the possible role of Russian President Vladimir Putin as a mediator in the conflict. After a phone call with Putin over the weekend, Trump said Sunday that he believed the Russian leader could serve as a mediator. Macron, however, rejected the idea during a visit to Greenland, citing Russia's own violation of the UN Charter in Ukraine as the reason why Moscow was not considered a peace broker.

Criticism of the G7 and Russia's role

The differences between the two men were clearly visible at Trump's first public appearance at the G7 on Monday, when he criticized the group for excluding Russia 11 years ago. It was a combative start for the president in Canada, where he will meet other heads of state over the next two days on a variety of issues.

"Barack Obama and a person named Trudeau didn't want Russia in it. And I would say that was a mistake because I think you wouldn't have a war now if Russia had been in it," Trump said during his meeting with Carney. Russia was excluded from the then existing G8 in 2014 after the annexation of Crimea. Justin Trudeau, whom Trump repeatedly criticized on Monday for his decision to exclude Russia, became prime minister a year later.

“They excluded Russia, which I viewed as a very big mistake, even though I wasn't in politics,” Trump said. Trying not to have Putin at the table further complicates things. When asked about Putin's participation, he said: "I'm not saying he should be there at this point, because too much water has flowed down the drain."

This story has been updated with further developments.