Trump says his G7 summit departure not linked to any Israel-Iran ceasefire offer
US President Donald Trump denies French President Emmanuel Macron's claim he left G7 to pursue a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, saying his reason for returning is "much bigger." - REUTERS
WASHINGTON: Donald Trump said late on Monday his early departure from the Group of Seven nations summit has "nothing to do with" working on a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, refuting comments by French President Emmanuel Macron who said the U.S. president made a ceasefire proposal.
AI Brief
- Trump refuted Macron's claim that he left the G7 summit to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Iran.
- An ongoing air war between Israel and Iran has killed hundreds, escalating regional tensions.
- Trump still seeks a nuclear deal with Iran, though Tehran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful use.
"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 added in the post.
Macron said earlier on Monday Trump had made an offer for a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. "There is indeed an offer to meet and exchange. An offer was made especially to get a ceasefire and to then kick-start broader discussions," Macron told reporters at the G7.
Screenshot of post on Truth Social by US President Donald Trump, June 16, 2025. - Screengrab/via REUTERS
Trump left the G7 summit in Canada early to return to Washington due to the Middle East situation.
The air war between Iran and U.S. ally Israel - which began on Friday when Israel attacked Iran with air strikes - has raised alarms in a region that had already been on edge since the start of Israel's military assault on Gaza in October 2023.
Since the Israeli strikes on Friday, the two Middle Eastern rivals have exchanged blows, with Iranian officials reporting over 220 deaths, mostly civilians, while Israel said 24 civilians were killed.
Israel, the U.S. and other Western nations have long sought to pressure Iran to curb its nuclear weapons development.
Tehran denies seeking nuclear weapons and has said it has the right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, including enrichment, as a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Israel, which is not a party to the NPT, is the only country in the Middle East widely believed to have nuclear weapons.
Washington said Trump was still aiming for a nuclear deal with Iran.
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