Trump predicts Iran will sign nuclear deal, World News
KANANASKIS, Alberta — US President Donald Trump said on Monday (June 16) Iran should have signed a deal with the United States on its nuclear programme before Israeli strikes began and that he believes they now want to make an agreement.
"As I've been saying, I think a deal will be signed, or something will happen, but a deal will be signed, and I think Iran is foolish not to sign," Trump told reporters on the sidelines of the G7 summit.
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Business Times
38 minutes ago
- Business Times
Whither the G7 (now G6?) summit
WHAT is the G7– the elite grouping of advanced economies – good for? Conventional wisdom has it that this is about setting the economic direction for everyone else. Trade, international security, climate change and gender equality are core issues. This year, energy security, critical minerals supply and artificial intelligence are added to the list of topics. How the current meeting of leaders from the US, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Japan in a small Canadian town square those lofty subjects with the situation that they actually find themselves in now is worth watching, even if only for its entertainment value. After all, before he left in a hurry, US President Donald Trump was briefly in a country that he wants to annex. He has also launched a pervasive trade war against all his allies there, as well as most of the world. He denies climate change and has no time for gender issues. On top of that, the leaders have to grapple with the Ukraine war, the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, and outbreak of another war between Israel and Iran. On every count, Trump's position, as the presumptive G7 leader, differs markedly from the rest. And now that the US president has left the meeting, presumably to handle the latest edition of the Middle East conflict, what can the others say that will make an iota of difference on these issues? At the end of two days of discussion, the G7 usually issues a statement. It typically outlines the consensus on issues raised, and provides a road map for how the summiteers intend to handle them. This time the host, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, seems to have decided that there will only be a summary from the chair. There is a good reason for his circumspection: At a previous G7 meeting in Canada in 2018, during Trump's first term, he refused to endorse the final communique, and described then host Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau as 'very dishonest and weak' in social media. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up It is a tradition to invite some other world leaders to the talks. This time, the assemblage will hear from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, among others. The presence of these other leaders lends a veneer of inclusiveness. How much weight their inputs are given is open to debate. On the flip side, most of the invited guests had come with an eye to hold a bilateral meeting with Trump on the sidelines, which is no longer an option. China, the world's second-largest economy by one measure or the largest by another, has never been invited, but is likely to be the focus of talks. An earlier meeting of G7 finance ministers provides a pointer to where the current summit is likely to be heading. After that May meeting, a joint communique (yes, there was one) stated that the G7 would continue to monitor 'non-market policies and practices' which contribute to global trade imbalances. China was not named, but 'non-market policies' is the Western code used to refer to China's trade practices. The G7 represents 44 per cent of global gross domestic product, and its meetings showcase its status at the apex of the global economic hierarchy. But, as Trump's abrupt departure shows, not much else.
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
China accuses Trump of ‘pouring oil' on Iran, Israel conflict
China urged all parties to take immediate measures to de-escalate tensions, and prevent the conflict from expanding and spreading. PHOTO: AFP BEIJING - China on June 17 accused President Donald Trump of 'pouring oil' on the mounting conflict between Iran and Israel, after the US leader warned Tehran residents to 'immediately evacuate'. Following decades of enmity and a prolonged shadow war, Israel launched a surprise aerial campaign last week against targets across Iran, saying it aimed to prevent its arch-foe from acquiring atomic weapons – an ambition Tehran denies. The sudden flare-up in hostilities has sparked fears of a wider conflict, with Mr Trump urging Iran back to the negotiating table after Israel's attacks derailed ongoing nuclear talks. Mr Trump also issued an extraordinary warning on his Truth Social platform: 'Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!' Asked about Mr Trump's remarks, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said: 'Fanning the flames, pouring oil, making threats and mounting pressure will not help to promote the de-escalation of the situation, but will only intensify and widen the conflict. 'The Chinese side calls on all relevant parties, especially countries with special influence on Israel, to shoulder their responsibilities, take immediate measures to de-escalate tensions, and prevent the conflict from expanding and spreading.' China's embassy in Israel on June 17 also urged its citizens to leave the country 'as soon as possible', after Israel and Iran traded heavy strikes. 'The Chinese mission in Israel reminds Chinese nationals to leave the country as soon as possible via land border crossings, on the precondition that they can guarantee their personal safety,' the embassy said in a statement on WeChat. 'It is recommended to depart in the direction of Jordan,' it added. The embassy warned the conflict was 'continuing to escalate'. 'Much civilian infrastructure has been damaged, civilian casualties are on the rise, and the security situation is becoming more serious,' it said. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
AsiaOne
2 hours ago
- AsiaOne
Pentagon chief says Trump still aiming for deal with Iran, World News
WASHINGTON — US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told Fox News on Monday (June 16) that President Donald Trump was still aiming for a nuclear deal with Iran even as hostilities have escalated between US ally Israel and Tehran, while a White House aide said separately that Washington was not attacking Iran. "Of course," Hegseth said on Fox News' Jesse Watters Primetime show when asked if Trump was still aiming for a nuclear deal with Iran. "We are postured defensively in the region to be strong in pursuit of a peace deal. And we certainly hope that's what happens here," Hegseth said. In a social media post on Monday, Trump said "Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran," citing what he said was the country's rejection of a deal to curb nuclear weapons development. Israel attacked Iran on Friday and since then the two Middle Eastern rivals have exchanged blows, with Iranian officials reporting over 220 deaths, mostly civilians, in five days while Israel said 24 civilians had been killed. Israel says it aims to eliminate what it calls threats posed by Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons and has pointed to its right to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, including enrichment, as a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Israel, which is not a party to the NPT, is the only country in the Middle East widely believed to have nuclear weapons. Israel does not deny or confirm that. The air war between Iran and Israel has raised further alarms in a region that had already been on edge since the start of Israel's military assault on Gaza in October 2023. Washington has thus far maintained it is not involved in Israeli attacks on Iran and warned Tehran not to attack US interests or personnel in the region. "We're vigilant, we're prepared, and we have messaged ... consistently from the beginning that we're in the region to defend our people and our assets," Hegseth said on Fox News. White House aide Alex Pfeiffer took to social media platform X to deny online claims that the US was attacking Iran. "This is not true. American forces are maintaining their defensive posture, and that has not changed," Pfeiffer said. [[nid:719165]]
