President Donald Trump presented a preliminary agreement to end the Iran conflict and indicated his intention to pursue peace in Ukraine and Lebanon as he attended the Group of Seven summit in France.
The U.S. president arrived in Evian‑les‑Bains on Monday, a visit that has drawn growing concern among partners about his unpredictable geopolitical conduct.
Although the Iran deal has been welcomed as a potential resolution to that conflict, the atmosphere is clouded by concerns over new tariff threats directed at France, Washington’s criticism of NATO and military aid, warnings regarding immigration, and attempts to heighten political division.
Soon after his arrival, Trump met with French President Emmanuel Macron and boasted about the Sunday‑announced preliminary ceasefire with Iran, stating that the United States was finally turning a new page in its long‑standing relationship with its former adversary.
Trump said, “I believe many positive developments are imminent in the Middle East, and notably oil prices are falling while the stock market is soaring.” He added that the Iran deal will bring worldwide success.
Having secured the agreement, Trump said he approached the summit with strong support for discussions with G7 leaders, some of whom have recently criticized his handling of the hostilities initiated by the United States and Israel in late February.
Trump has clashed with President Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni over what he described as a lack of consultation before the decision to go to war. He has countered by criticizing NATO allies for not participating in the U.S. military operation.
France, Britain, and Germany have offered to assist in securing the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that the agreement stipulates Iran should reopen.
Trump told Macron that vessels were already moving through the strait without tolls.
He added that he did not anticipate needing much assistance because the strait would be open, and suggested that France could contribute a ship or two.
Good conversations
With the Iran deal secured, Trump said he would now focus on achieving peace between Ukraine and Russia and also working to end the conflict in Lebanon.
He said, “We had a constructive conversation yesterday with President Zelenskyy and President Putin, and I believe we can make progress. Both leaders appear receptive.”
Zelenskyy had offered to arrange a meeting between Putin, Trump, and European leaders at the G7, but the Kremlin did not respond, according to a Ukrainian official.
Putin is subject to an International Criminal Court warrant for war crimes, and as an ICC member, France would be required to arrest him; however, both the United States and Russia oppose the court.
The repercussions of the wars in Eastern Europe and the Middle East are only one of several challenges G7 leaders will address during the summit, which concludes on Wednesday.
They will also aim to find common ground on addressing global economic imbalances and artificial intelligence, and will discuss China’s dominance in the market for rare earth minerals essential to everyday electronics.
