G7 Leaders Call for Middle East De-escalation, Reject Iran Nuclear Program

At the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Canada, the leaders issued a joint statement calling for the de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, emphasizing Israel's right to self-defense while underscoring the protection of civilians. The statement strongly condemned Iran as the principal source of regional instability and reiterated that Iran must never be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, a position supported by US President Donald Trump. The leaders urged that resolving the Iranian crisis should lead to a broader reduction of conflict, including a ceasefire in Gaza, though the statement stopped short of calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. President Trump left the summit early amid escalating Israeli attacks on Iran and warned Iranians to evacuate Tehran, fueling speculation about potential US military involvement, which officials denied. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed hope for a US-led diplomatic effort toward a ceasefire, though Trump later distanced himself from such plans, indicating broader concerns beyond a ceasefire. The G7 also expressed concern about the impact of the conflict on global energy markets and pledged readiness to coordinate with partners to maintain market stability.