The G7 summit in Kananaskis, Canada, has reached consensus on its declaration on the Israel-Iran conflict, accusing Tehran of being “the main source of instability and terrorism” in the Middle East and insisting that “Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon.” The document, hard-won and hard-fought, calls for a resolution to the crisis that would lead to a de-escalation of tensions across the region and include a ceasefire in Gaza.
The very brief statement, just 10 lines long, reiterates Israel's"right to self-defense." "We reiterate our support for Israel's security," it asserts. It also states that the members of the G-7, the group that brings together developed economies—the United States, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy, in addition to the European Union—will remain vigilant about the"possible repercussions" of the crisis "on international energy markets." They also declare their willingness to coordinate measures to "safeguard market stability," among themselves and with other partners outside the group.
The European-sponsored document had been the subject of complex negotiations in recent days, which intensified throughout the day. US President Donald Trump had resisted signing a declaration calling for a de-escalation of the crisis, a senior official in his administration confirmed.
At the same time, tensions in the Middle East threatened to spiral out of control after Israel attacked the headquarters of Iranian state television during a live broadcast and called on residents in parts of Tehran to evacuate the area, where it planned to attack"military targets." Tensions reached such a point that Trump decided it was necessary to return to Washington early, on Monday night, and skip the second and final day of meetings.
"If someone had asked me this morning whether we were going to have a statement on Iran, I would probably have said it was a very complicated proposal," acknowledged a European source.
The text was personally reviewed by the leaders, who sought to persuade Trump throughout the day to give his approval, in plenary sessions devoted to geopolitical issues on Monday afternoon, and in bilateral talks. Ultimately, the president agreed. The statement was released at the end of a working dinner where the leaders discussed the situations in Iran, the Middle East, and Ukraine. At the time of publication, the American was already on his way back to Washington.
"A diplomatic solution remains important for everyone, but the situation on the ground is changing very rapidly," said the European source consulted. Shortly before his spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, announced the US president's early departure, Trump had urged the population of Tehran to immediately evacuate the Iranian capital, a city of 10 million.
