Ahead of the G7 Summit in Canada, leaders from the world’s seven most advanced economies released a joint statement addressing the rising conflict in West Asia. They reaffirmed their commitment to peace and emphasized Israel’s right to defend itself amid the ongoing hostilities.
The G7 leaders stated, “We, the leaders of the G7, reiterate our commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East. In this context, we affirm that Israel has a right to defend itself. We reiterate our support for the security of Israel. We also affirm the importance of the protection of civilians.”
Iran Held Responsible for Regional Tensions
In their message, the G7 nations clearly identified Iran as the key force behind the region’s instability and rising terrorism. They strongly opposed the idea of Iran developing nuclear weapons and called for diplomatic solutions to ease the situation.
The statement read, “Iran is the principal source of regional instability and terror. We have been consistently clear that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. We urge that the resolution of the Iranian crisis leads to a broader de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza. We will remain vigilant to the implications for international energy markets and stand ready to coordinate, including with like-minded partners, to safeguard market stability.”
Trump Pushes for Ceasefire, Leaves G7 Summit Early
In a surprising development, US President Donald Trump left the G7 summit ahead of schedule. Media reports suggested that he did so to focus on brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. French President Emmanuel Macron told journalists that Trump had proposed a ceasefire plan, aiming to open up wider diplomatic discussions.
Macron told reporters, “There is an offer that has been made, especially to have a ceasefire and to initiate broader discussions.”
He added that France would support the effort, “If the United States of America can achieve a ceasefire, it is a very good thing and France will support it, and we wish for it.”
Trump Warns Iran on Nuclear Weapons via Truth Social
Earlier, Trump had made a strong statement on Truth Social. He criticized Iran for not signing a proposed agreement and warned of the consequences of continued aggression. He called for the immediate evacuation of Tehran and reiterated that Iran must never acquire nuclear arms.
In his post, he wrote, “Iran should have signed the ‘deal’ I told them to sign. What a shame, and a waste of human life. Simply stated, Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. I have said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!”
In another post, he stressed, “America First means many great things, including the fact that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. Make America great again.”
Death Toll Mounts as Israel-Iran Conflict Continues
The war between Israel and Iran has now entered its fifth day, with both nations launching missile strikes. Several areas have been hit, causing widespread civilian casualties. According to CNN, at least 224 people have died in Iran and 24 in Israel since the conflict began.