G7 leaders reiterated their support for Israel’s security and identified Iran as a source of instability in the Middle East, the group said in a June 16 statement.
The leaders of the United States, the UK, Japan, France, Italy, Germany, the European Union, and host nation Canada also called for a de-escalation of hostilities in the region.
“Iran is the principal source of regional instability and terror. We have been consistently clear that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon,” the leaders said in the statement.
They called for “the resolution of the Iranian crisis” and “a broader de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza.”
U.S. President Donald Trump gave his blessing to publish the statement without seeing the final draft, saying aboard Air Force One that he had authorized officials to say certain things.
Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei lambasted the statement from the G7, describing it as containing “one-sided rhetoric” and showing a disregard for “Israel’s blatalnt [sic] aggression against Iran.”
Baqaei said in a statement posted on the social media platform X that the G7 leaders “have to call a spade a spade” and accused Israel of “unlawful attacks on our peaceful nuclear infrastructure.”
“The path to regional stability requires an immediate end to Israel’s aggression and accountability for its violations of international law,” he said. “The G7 must abandon its one-sided rhetoric and address the real source of escalation: Israel’s AGGRESSION.”
The G7 statement was issued amid Trump’s abrupt departure from the meeting in the Canadian Rocky Mountain village of Kananaskis, Alberta.
“President Trump had a great day at the G7, even signing a major trade deal with the United Kingdom and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Much was accomplished, but because of what’s going on in the Middle East, President Trump will be leaving tonight after dinner with Heads of State,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on X.
After Trump and other leaders posed for a group photo at the G7 summit, the U.S. president said, “You probably see what I see, and I have to be back as soon as I can.”
Trump later criticized French President Emmanuel Macron following the Frenchman’s assertion that the American leader’s hurried departure was because of a U.S. offer of a cease-fire between Israel and Iran.
“There is indeed an offer to meet and exchange. An offer was made especially to get a cease-fire and to then kick-start broader discussions,” Macron told reporters in Kananaskis.
Later, in a post on Truth Social, Trump said his French counterpart was wrong.
“He has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a Cease Fire. Much bigger than that,” Trump wrote.
Trump later said he wanted a “real end” to the nuclear issue with Iran, with Tehran “giving up entirely” on atomic weapons.
He also suggested that he may send U.S. Vice President JD Vance or U.S. Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff to meet with Iranian officials.
Trump made the comments aboard Air Force One as he departed the summit.
He also said Israel would not be easing strikes against Iran.
“You’re going to find out over the next two days. You’re going to find out. Nobody’s slowed up so far,” Trump said.
Later, via a post on Truth Social, he said: “I have not reached out to Iran for ‘Peace Talks’ in any way, shape, or form. This is just more HIGHLY FABRICATED, FAKE NEWS! If they want to talk, they know how to reach me. They should have taken the deal that was on the table—Would have saved a lot of lives!!!”
Israel attacked Iran on June 13 in what it called “Operation Rising Lion,” describing it as a preemptive strike to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.
Since then, Israel and Iran have exchanged blows, with Iranian officials reporting 224 deaths, mostly civilians, while Israel stated that 24 of its civilians had been killed.
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