Trump urges Tehran evacuation, leaves G7 early

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
17 Jun 2025 04:01
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US President Donald Trump leaves the G7 summit in Canada amid the escalating war between 'Israel' and Iran, warning Tehran’s residents to evacuate and hinting at imminent US action.

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United States President Donald Trump speaks to reporters during the Group of Seven (G7) Summit at the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada on June 16, 2025. (AP)

US President Donald Trump abruptly cut short his attendance at the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada on Monday, citing the escalating Israeli war on Iran as the reason for his early return to Washington. The move came just hours after Trump issued a stark warning to residents of the Iranian capital, calling for an immediate evacuation.

"Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!" the US president wrote on his Truth Social platform.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later confirmed on X that Trump would depart the summit after dinner with fellow heads of state, citing developments in the Middle East.

“Because of what's going on in the Middle East, President Trump will be leaving tonight,” she said.

Additionally, Trump requested that the National Security Council staff wait for him in the White House Situation Room.

Trump rhetoric on Iran hints at escalation

Trump’s early departure means he will miss the final day of high-level meetings at the Kananaskis resort in the Canadian Rockies, including scheduled sessions with the leaders of Ukraine and Mexico.

Speaking to reporters before the announcement, Trump hinted at looming decisions. “As soon as I leave here, we're going to be doing something. But I have to leave here,” he said, without providing further details. Although he has maintained that the US was not involved in the initial Israeli strikes on Iran, his rhetoric in recent days suggests a shift toward more direct engagement.

Despite expressing support for a negotiated resolution, Trump has repeatedly praised Israeli military actions.

“It's painful for both parties, but I'd say Iran is not winning this war, and they should talk, and they should talk immediately, before it's too late,” he said during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

White House denies involvement in Israeli attacks

Soon after Trump announced his decision to leave the G7 summit early, White House spokesperson Alex Pfeiffer said that US forces in the Middle East "remain in a defensive posture," and that has not changed.

"We will defend American interests," Pfeiffer added

This comes following a report by Israeli broadcaster Channel 14, which said that the US participated in strikes on Iran.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said that he has ordered the deployment of additional forces in the CENTCOM area of responsibility.

"Additional deployments are intended to enhance our defensive posture in the region," he explained.

Currently, the US has deployed two destroyers to ease the pressure off of Israeli air defense systems, as well as THAAD batteries, to help in attempts to thwart Iranian ballistic missile attacks.

Macron says the US requested a meeting with Iran

French President Emmanuel Macron, also participating in the G7 summit, said that Trump told G7 leaders there were discussions to obtain a ceasefire between "Israel" and Iran.

"European partners are ready to take part in serious Iran nuclear negotiations if a ceasefire is reached," he added.

Additionally, Macron said that Washington had made an offer to meet with Iranian officials, saying, "Now we will see what happens."

G7 divided over Israeli attack on Iran

While most G7 leaders have offered general support for what they described as "Israel's right to defend itself", efforts to reach a unified diplomatic statement on the war have been hindered by divisions, especially over the scope of the Israeli military campaign.

French President Emmanuel Macron urged Israeli restraint, particularly in civilian areas of Iran, while British Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions but emphasized the need for de-escalation.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the G7 was seeking to underscore "Israel’s legitimate right to self-defense" while also exploring "potential additional measures to reach a diplomatic solution."

However, Japan, historically maintaining diplomatic channels with Tehran, has openly broken ranks with its G7 counterparts. In an unusually strong rebuke, Tokyo condemned the Israeli assault on Iran as "completely unacceptable and deeply regrettable."

Western efforts to hinder Iran’s nuclear program have remained central to the crisis. Since Trump’s unilateral withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear agreement in 2018, Tehran has ramped up uranium enrichment, though not yet to weapons-grade levels. Tehran has maintained that it does not aim to and will not produce nuclear weapons due to a fatwa by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Sayyed Ali Khamenei, who banned the production of weapons of mass destruction such as nuclear bombs.

Meanwhile, "Israel" possesses nuclear weapons, though it has never formally acknowledged them, and continues to receive endless Western support.