Trump refuses to sign G7 statement amid split over Iran

Yahoo

6 hours ago

Donald Trump torpedoed a joint G7 statement on the Israel-Iran conflict as world leaders met in Canada on Monday, according to senior US officials.
More splits were on display between Mr Trump and other G7 nation leaders as the two-day summit got underway in the sun and grandeur of Banff National Park.
The agenda for the long-planned summit has been hastily updated to reflect cross-border barrages fired by Iran and Israel and concerns about a wider war.
The Telegraph learnt that a draft document was circulated that called for both sides to protect civilians and for tight monitoring of Iran's nuclear facilities.
That was unacceptable to Mr Trump, who is demanding that Iran is not allowed any uranium enrichment activity and who has been one of the most outspoken of Israel's supporters. 'I can confirm that he did not sign on to the statement,' said a senior US official.
Organisers have gone out of their way to set an agenda and schedule that would reduce the chances of Mr Trump, a famously unpredictable leader, going rogue.
However, Mr Trump used his opening remarks with Mark Carney, the Canadian prime minister, to indicate support for Russia and China one day being part of the G7.
The US President said it was a 'very big mistake' to kick Russia out of the then G8 and claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin was 'very insulted'.
He also said China joining was 'not a bad idea'.
But the Prime Minister's official spokesman took a different tone, saying that Sir Keir was 'happy with the make-up' of the current G7.
The current G7 consists of the UK, US, Canada, Japan, France, Germany and Italy.
Differences were also emerging over the specifics of a sanctions package on Russia that is expected to be announced at the summit.
Downing Street briefed that 'tough new sanctions to squeeze Putin's war machine' are set to be unveiled, but could not confirm that Mr Trump would back them. Nor were any details provided about exactly what would be sanctioned.
Sir Starmer said: 'The fact is - Russia doesn't hold all the cards. So, we should take this moment to increase economic pressure and show President Putin it is in his - and Russia's interests - to demonstrate he is serious about peace.
'We are finalising a further sanctions package – and I want to work with all of our G7 partners to squeeze Russia's energy revenues and reduce the funds they are able to pour into their illegal war.'
The Prime Minister's official spokesman rejected the idea that Sir Keir's mention of holding cards was a rebuke of Mr Trump, who told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that he did not 'have the cards' in their bust-up in the Oval Office in February.
Credit: Anadolu Agency via Reuters; IRINN
Bloomberg also reported that the White House is resisting an attempt by European Union leaders to lower the Russian oil price cap at the summit.
Sir Keir is attempting to build support from European leaders for tougher action to stop small boats crossing the English Channel.
The Prime Minister raised the topic with Giorgia Meloni, the Italian Prime minister, at a bilateral meeting on Sunday night and will press the case with others at the summit.
Meanwhile, Downing Street played down talk of splits over the Israel-Iran statement on the opening day of the summit, noting that there was still time to find wording acceptable to all the leaders. Sir Keir said the G7 leaders shared a 'consensus for de-escalation'.
The UK has also moved to indicate its disapproval at calls for regime change in Iran – something for which Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, is publicly calling.
Asked whether Sir Keir supported regime change in Iran, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'Significant de-stabilisation of the region is in nobody's interest'.
Meanwhile, the White House made clear that Mr Trump's objective was to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons.
'Under the strong leadership of President Trump, the United States is back to leading the effort to restore peace around the world,' said a White House official. 'President Trump will continue to work towards ensuring Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon.'
Israel launched strikes against Iran on Friday, saying Tehran was on the brink of building a nuclear bomb. Since then, Iran and Israel have traded huge salvos, killing and wounding civilians and raising the spectre of a broader regional war.
Mr Trump arrived in Canada on Sunday evening ahead of two days of talks. He has repeatedly said that Iran should return to the negotiating table in order to forge a deal that would see it give up its nuclear ambitions.
Ahead of a meeting with Mr Carney, he confirmed reports that Iran was using backchannels to ask for talks, saying he had given Tehran two months to reach a deal.
'They had 60 days, and on the 61st day, I said, we don't have a deal. They have to make a deal,' he said. 'And it's painful for both parties, but I'd say Iran is not winning this war, and they should talk.'
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