‘Extraordinarily serious': Trump to depart G7 early to deal with Middle East escalation
Former White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney discusses President Trump's decision to depart the G7 summit earlier than expected due to increased tensions in the Middle East.
'I don't think this is one of the long events,' Mr Mulvaney told Sky News Australia.
'One of the things even the interventionist branch of the Republican Party … would never suggest you put boots on the ground in Iran.
'I just don't think that's on the table in any circumstances.
'I think you're going to see a relatively short engagement, but that doesn't mean it won't be extraordinarily serious and could escalate.'
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SBS Australia
an hour ago
- SBS Australia
SBS News In Easy English 17 June 2025
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SBS Australia
an hour ago
- SBS Australia
Albanese-Trump meeting cancelled as US president leaves G7 amid Israel-Iran tensions
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Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Israel-Iran conflict LIVE updates: Huge queues out of Tehran as Trump says ‘everyone should immediately evacuate' after leaving G7 summit early
Go to latest The headlines so far Here's the latest from the Middle East and the G7 summit: US President Donald Trump is leaving the G7 summit in Canada a day earlier than planned and will not meet with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. A spokesperson for the prime minister said given the unfolding conflict in the Middle East, Trump's decision was understandable. Trump is trying to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Iran – and reports say he is trying to use the US's stockpile of bunker-busting munitions as leverage to force Iran to the negotiating table. Trump said on social media that people should immediately evacuate the Iranian capital, Tehran. In Iran, state media says more than 224 Iranians have been killed, most of them civilians. Separately, Washington-based Iranian advocacy group Human Rights Activists reports that 406 people have been killed, including 197 civilians. In Israel, the death toll is 24, all civilians. You can catch up with everything we know at our regularly updated 'What we know so far' page. 3.33pm Trump says he's not working on a cease-fire, bags France's Macron By Michael Koziol Calgary: Minutes before Air Force One will take off from Calgary to take Donald Trump home, the US President has taken a dig at French President Emmanuel Macron on social media. 'Publicity seeking President Emmanuel Macron, of France, mistakenly said that I left the G7 Summit, in Canada, to go back to D.C. to work on a 'cease fire' between Israel and Iran,' he posted on TruthSocial. '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. Whether purposely or not, Emmanuel always gets it wrong. Stay Tuned!' That represents a major about-face. Only hours earlier President Macron told global media President Trump was working to forge 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 said at the G7, according to Reuters. 'We have to see now whether the sides will follow.' It comes as the New York Times reports Trump initially refused to sign a statement from the G7 leaders on the conflict - which condemned Iran as the 'principal source of regional instability and terror' and upheld Israel's right to defend itself - until draft wording was adjusted. 3.18pm Gold prices rise as Trump's Tehran warning sparks haven buying By Cindy Yin Gold pushed higher in early trading after US President Donald Trump called for the immediate evacuation of Tehran, boosting demand for havens as investors track hostilities between Israel and Iran. Bullion rose as much as 0.4 per cent to top US$3400 an ounce, following a 1.4 per cent slide on Monday, which was the biggest daily decline in a month. Trump issued the call to empty the Iranian capital in a TruthSocial post hours after he urged Iran's leadership to sign a deal to limit its nuclear program. The precious metal advanced by almost 4 per cent last week as Israel opened its military campaign against Iran's nuclear program, sparking fears of a region-wide conflict and adding fresh impetus to a rally driven by the threat to global economic growth from Trump's aggressive tariff agenda. 3.01pm Three dead in attack on Iranian television broadcaster By Liam Mannix Fars News Agency, which is operated by Iran's Revolutionary Guards, say three staff members were killed in Israel's earlier attack on the state television building. The channel's cameras captured the attack live on air, with dust falling from the shaking ceiling. 2.55pm Iran's bombardment of Israel falters By Liam Mannix Just a handful of ballistic missiles were launched by Iran overnight, according to a report from the Times of Israel. It said less than 10 missiles were launched at northern and central Israel. No injuries have been reported. The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that Tehran is keen to de-escalate the war and return to the negotiating table over its nuclear program. 2.48pm Hegseth heads to Situation Room By AP US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is headed to the White House Situation Room to meet with President Donald Trump and his national security team amid tensions in the Middle East. This comes as the US has repositioned warships and military aircraft in the region to respond if the conflict between Israel and Iran further escalates. Hegseth didn't provide details on what prompted the meeting but said on Fox News late on Monday (US time) that the movements were to 'ensure that our people are safe'. Hegseth's chief spokesman, Sean Parnell, tweeted that 'American Forces are maintaining their defensive posture'. The US has helped Israel shoot down Iranian missiles. 2.41pm Huge queues as civilians flee Tehran: social media report By Liam Mannix Video posted to social media appears to show huge queues at petrol stations and on highways as civilians flee Tehran. The videos have not yet been independently verified. But both the Israeli military and US President Donald Trump have been urging civilians to flee. 'Iran should have signed the 'deal' I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!' Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Monday. 2.14pm Iran the 'principal source of regional instability and terror': G7 leaders By Cindy Yin G7 leaders have released a statement describing Iran as the 'principal source of regional instability and terror', and also reaffirmed Israel's right to defend itself. Here is the statement in full: '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 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 co-ordinate, including with like-minded partners, to safeguard market stability.' The New York Times reported US President Donald Trump - who left the summit early - nearly declined to sign the statement, but changed his mind after the draft text was revised. 1.54pm The headlines so far By Liam Mannix and Angus Delaney Here's the latest from the Middle East and the G7 summit: US President Donald Trump is leaving the G7 summit in Canada a day earlier than planned and will not meet with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. A spokesperson for the prime minister said given the unfolding conflict in the Middle East, Trump's decision was understandable. Trump is trying to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Iran – and reports say he is trying to use the US's stockpile of bunker-busting munitions as leverage to force Iran to the negotiating table. Trump said on social media that people should immediately evacuate the Iranian capital, Tehran. In Iran, state media says more than 224 Iranians have been killed, most of them civilians. Separately, Washington-based Iranian advocacy group Human Rights Activists reports that 406 people have been killed, including 197 civilians. In Israel, the death toll is 24, all civilians. You can catch up with everything we know at our regularly updated 'What we know so far' page. 1.47pm China warns of 'potentially catastrophic consequences' of conflict, calls for peace By Cindy Yin China has warned that the Iran-Israel conflict may lead to wider instability in the Middle East. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi communicated with both countries as the days-old conflict showed no sign of ending. 'If the conflict between Israel and Iran continues to escalate or even spill over, the other countries in the Middle East will inevitably bear the brunt,' Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said in a briefing on Monday. 'China will continue to maintain communication with relevant parties and promote talks for peace so as to prevent more turmoil in the region.' The comments follow China's earlier condemnation of Israel's attack on Iran. China's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday that the nation 'explicitly condemns Israel's violation of Iran's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity', and 'firmly opposes the reckless attacks targeting Iranian officials and causing civilian casualties'.
