“Iran Can Never Have Nuclear Weapons” – G7 Urges Calm in Middle East, But No Israel-Iran Ceasefire Call
Leaders call for Gaza ceasefire and de-escalation, but avoid direct appeal to end Iran-Israel hostilities.
- G7 leaders call for de-escalation in the Middle East
- Trump leaves the summit early, citing urgent matters
- G7 reaffirms support for Israel and warns Iran against acquiring nuclear weapons
At the recent G7 summit in Canada, world leaders called for a de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East — including a ceasefire in Gaza — but notably avoided calling for a direct ceasefire between Israel and Iran.
The joint statement, issued from the scenic Kananaskis summit, affirmed Israel’s right to defend itself and criticized Iran’s destabilizing role in the region, emphasizing that Tehran must not acquire nuclear weapons.
US President Donald Trump, who signed the statement before unexpectedly departing the summit early, offered vague reasons for his exit, simply telling reporters he needed to return to Washington for “big stuff.” His press secretary later cited developments in the Middle East as the cause, though Trump denied his return was related to any ceasefire discussions.
Before leaving, Trump had alarmed observers by urging Iranians to evacuate Tehran — prompting speculation about potential US military involvement alongside Israel, a claim American officials were quick to deny. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced new military deployments to bolster U.S. defensive capabilities in the region.
French President Emmanuel Macron, another summit attendee, suggested Trump’s early departure might relate to ceasefire negotiations — a claim Trump fiercely rejected on his Truth Social platform, accusing Macron of being “publicity seeking” and misinformed.
Despite the leaders’ attempts to present a united front, divisions lingered — particularly regarding the conflicts in Ukraine and the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. Trump reportedly considered rejecting the summit’s statement altogether but ultimately signed it, albeit with watered-down language to maintain consensus among G7 members.
Trump’s early exit also meant missing scheduled meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.
Coinciding with the summit’s tense atmosphere, Iranian media reported explosions and air defense activity in Tehran, while Israeli cities again came under missile attack. In a dramatic episode, Israel struck Iran’s state broadcaster, forcing a news anchor to flee live on air.
Although much of the summit was overshadowed by the Middle East crisis, some diplomatic progress was made: Trump and UK officials announced a new trade deal aimed at reducing barriers between the two nations.
Still, Trump’s pointed remarks — including calling the expulsion of Russia from the former G8 a “big mistake” and saying, “Putin speaks to me” — ensured that controversy followed him even as he left the summit early.
