President Trump said Monday that Iranian officials wanted to talk about their nuclear program amid an escalating military conflict with Israel, but he wouldn’t comment on whether the U.S. would get involved.
“They’d like to talk, but they should’ve done that before,” Mr. Trump said during a bilateral meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Hours later, Mr. Trump decided to leave the Group of Seven summit Monday night, a day earlier than scheduled, and return to Washington due to the escalating war between Israel and Iran.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Mr. Trump’s abrupt departure from the gathering in Canada was “because of what’s going on in the Middle East.”
World leaders are in Alberta this week for the summit of leading industrialized nations.
“I had 60 days, and they had 60 days, and on the 61st day, I said, ‘We don’t have a deal,’” the president said. “They have to make a deal, and it’s painful for both parties, but I’d say Iran is not winning this war.”
He said Iranian officials should “talk immediately before it’s too late.”
When asked what it would take for the U.S. to get involved in the conflict, Mr. Trump said, “I don’t want to talk about that.”
Mr. Trump said later Monday that Iran would be “foolish” not to sign a deal.
“I think a deal will be signed, or something will happen,” Mr. Trump told reporters.
He said he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and “everybody.”
When asked whether Mr. Netanyahu’s attacks on Iran have derailed his nuclear plan, Mr. Trump said, “No. Look, Iran should’ve signed the deal.
“I think Iran basically is at the negotiating table, they want to make a deal,” he said. “As soon as I leave [the G7], we’re going to be doing something. I have a commitment to a lot of countries.”
Stefan Kornelius, a spokesman for the German government, told reporters there could be a joint statement on the rising conflict in the Middle East coming out of the G7, “because that would serve a purpose that would unfold some impact.”
However, he said it would be up to the U.S. whether a joint statement is provided or not.
The White House in a statement said, “Under the strong leadership of President Trump, the United States is back to leading the effort to restore peace around the world.”
“President Trump will continue to work towards ensuring Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon,” a White House official said.
Iran fired another wave of missiles, killing at least eight people in Israel and sending the conflict into its fifth day.
Israel has said it has air superiority over Tehran and issued evacuation orders to the people of Tehran, parts of the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.
The Israeli strikes have killed more than 200 people in Iran.
The Israeli military said it had destroyed more than 120 surface-to-surface missile launchers in central Iran.
The strikes were launched after U.S. negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program got nowhere.
Mr. Trump has maintained that Iran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.