Trump: "Iran Must Engage in Dialogue Immediately Before It Is Too Late"
On China's Participation in G7: "Not a Bad Idea"
"If Russia Had Not Been Expelled from G8, There Would Have Been No War"
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Iran, which is currently engaged in armed conflict in the Middle East, wants to engage in dialogue to ease tensions with Israel. He also criticized the exclusion of Russia from the former Group of Eight (G8) as a "mistake," highlighting a difference in position with European leaders who argue for stronger sanctions against Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.
On June 16 (local time), ahead of a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the resort city of Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada, where the Group of Seven (G7) summit is being held, President Trump told reporters, "They (Iran) want dialogue, but they should have done it sooner."
He continued, "It is a painful situation for both sides, but I do not believe Iran is winning this war," adding, "They must immediately come to the table for talks before it is too late." When asked about the possibility of U.S. military intervention, he avoided a direct answer, saying, "I don't want to talk about that."
According to foreign media reports on the same day, Iran is seeking ways to prevent an escalation of conflict with Israel. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that Iran has conveyed its willingness, through Arab mediators, to halt hostile acts against Israel and to engage in dialogue regarding its nuclear program. Iran has particularly indicated the possibility of returning to the negotiating table on the condition that the United States does not participate in Israeli attacks against Iran.
This development comes as Israel has taken control of most of Iran's airspace and struck key facilities related to Iran's missile and nuclear programs, undermining the position of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that airstrikes will continue until Iran's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs are completely eliminated. Previously, President Trump had proposed a 60-day nuclear negotiation deadline to Iran in April. However, after Iran refused to accept U.S. demands, Israel launched a surprise airstrike against Iran on June 13, the day after the negotiation deadline expired.
On this day, President Trump also stated that he does not oppose China's participation in the G7 framework.
When asked by reporters about China's participation in the G7, he replied, "It's not a bad idea," and "I don't mind." However, he did not clarify whether he was referring to full membership for China or simply allowing observer status.
President Trump also argued that excluding Russia from the G8, resulting in the current G7 framework, was a "very big mistake." He claimed that the move to exclude Russia "made life more complicated," and asserted, "If Russia had not been expelled from the G8, there would have been no (Russia-Ukraine) war." This statement reveals a significant difference in position from European leaders who are calling for stronger sanctions against Russia following the war in Ukraine.
In addition, President Trump reportedly took a negative stance on the issuance of a joint G7 statement calling for easing tensions between Iran and Israel. While G7 leaders were preparing a joint statement expressing support for Israel's right to self-defense and the need to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, President Trump rejected it, making the differences between the United States and other countries clear from the outset of the summit.
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