Trump heads to G7 in French Alps as Iran agreement takes center stage
U.S. President Donald Trump will attend the Group of Seven summit in Evian-les-Bains after announcing a deal aimed at ending the United States' conflict with Iran, while leaders also prepare to discuss the wars in Ukraine and the Strait of Hormuz.
President Donald Trump is set to arrive in Evian-les-Bains, France, on Monday for the Group of Seven summit, days after announcing an agreement that he says will end the United States' hostilities with Iran. The deal, whose full text has not been released, is expected to include steps toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz, where roughly 20% of global crude oil shipments had been disrupted.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi indicated that the strait would remain closed until the agreement is formally signed. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who acted as a mediator, said preliminary discussions would begin this week to prepare for a 60-day technical dialogue on Iran's nuclear program.
At the summit, French President Emmanuel Macron will host a session on the Middle East that will feature leaders from Egypt, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, with Iran expected to be a key topic. Macron said the meeting will assess the implications of the U.S.–Iran agreement, support for Lebanon, the long-term reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and progress on Iran's nuclear and missile programs.
Trump is also scheduled to speak with other G7 leaders about de-mining the Strait of Hormuz, a task Britain and France have expressed willingness to assist. In separate phone calls, Trump spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to a Russian aide, Trump emphasized the need to end hostilities in Ukraine and offered to influence European allies and Kyiv toward that goal.
U.S. officials have not disclosed details of the agreement’s verification mechanisms or how it differs from the 2015 nuclear deal that the United States withdrew from in 2018. Some members of Congress, including Senator Mark Warner and Senator Lindsey Graham, have said the deal will require congressional review and have raised questions about its enforcement and financial components.
The G7 summit will also address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with President Zelenskyy expected to join a working session on Tuesday. Trump’s upcoming discussions at the summit are likely to be shaped by recent tensions with European leaders over his unilateral approach to the Iran conflict.
