International Desk

US President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran on June 16, urging its leaders to return to negotiations with Washington “before it’s too late,” as a fresh wave of Israeli airstrikes deepened a rapidly expanding conflict in the Middle East. The warning came as leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) industrialized nations gathered in the Canadian Rockies amid growing fears of a regional war spiraling out of control.

The high-altitude resort summit, originally intended to promote unity within the bloc, has instead been overshadowed by Israel’s massive and unexpected military campaign against Iran. The strikes-launched just two days before the summit-targeted key nuclear and military sites across Iran and reportedly resulted in the deaths of several senior Iranian commanders and nuclear scientists.

Iran responded swiftly with retaliatory drone and missile attacks on Israeli territory, marking the most intense exchange of hostilities between the two countries in decades.

President Trump, now in his second term and continuing his characteristic hardline approach, appeared to back Israel’s actions, despite ongoing diplomatic overtures between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s disputed nuclear program.

“It’s painful for both parties, but I’d say Iran is not winning this war,” Trump said in a press appearance alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. “They should talk, and they should talk immediately, before it’s too late.”

The sudden escalation has placed intense pressure on the G7 to adopt a unified stance. However, cracks in the alliance’s approach quickly surfaced. While most member states have expressed concern over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, they have stopped short of condemning Israel’s timing or tactics.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged a shared concern but emphasized the need for restraint. “There is absolutely a focus on how we de-escalate this, and that will be a central theme of our talks,” he said.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz added that the European nations were preparing a draft statement that would place primary responsibility on Tehran. “We’ll highlight again that Iran must never possess material that would allow it to produce nuclear weapons,” Merz stated. “At the same time, we’ll underline Israel’s legitimate right to defend itself.”

A joint G7 statement is expected to be discussed Monday evening, though diplomats have indicated that it will likely avoid calling for a formal ceasefire.

In a rare divergence from Western consensus, Japan has openly criticized Israel’s decision to strike Iran amid ongoing negotiations.

“The Israeli attacks while diplomacy was progressing are completely unacceptable and deeply regrettable,” said Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya. Tokyo’s stance reflects its traditionally more neutral posture in Middle Eastern conflicts, rooted in historical ties with Iran and a strategic preference for dialogue.

Tensions over Iran’s nuclear program have only intensified since Trump’s withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal during his first term in office. Tehran has since increased uranium enrichment levels but has not yet moved toward weaponization, according to international monitors.

Meanwhile, Israel-which maintains a policy of deliberate ambiguity regarding its nuclear arsenal-is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, further complicating the diplomatic equation.

The G7’s current focus is on preventing further escalation while trying to salvage a path back to negotiations. Trump, for his part, insisted that diplomacy is still viable. “A negotiated settlement is achievable. I believe that,” he said, despite continuing to defend Israel’s right to launch preemptive attacks.

Beyond the Middle East crisis, the summit has also seen Trump pushing forward his controversial economic agenda. Declaring himself a “tariff person,” the US president signaled that sweeping tariffs on both allies and adversaries would go into effect next month unless major trade concessions are made.

In a meeting with Prime Minister Carney, Trump expressed optimism about reaching an understanding, even while continuing to apply pressure. “It’s simple, it’s easy, it’s precise, and it just goes very quickly,” Trump said of his tariff policy. “I think Mark has a more complex idea, but also very good.”

Trump has repeatedly antagonized Canada in the lead-up to the summit, joking that the country should become the 51st US state-a remark seen by many as undermining diplomatic decorum.

Also looming large over the summit is the continued war in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to attend the G7 talks on June 17 and is expected to speak with Trump, whose past dealings with Zelensky-particularly attempts to pressure him into negotiating with Russia-have drawn international criticism.

Trump has expressed growing frustration that Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected a proposed ceasefire. Despite this, Trump has again floated the idea of readmitting Russia into the G8, from which it was expelled in 2014 following the annexation of Crimea.

“Putin was very insulted by the expulsion,” Trump claimed on June 16. “If Russia were still a member, you wouldn’t have a war right now.”

As the G7 convenes under snow-capped mountains, the mood is anything but serene. From looming economic shifts to full-blown military crises, the summit reflects a world grappling with deep divisions and fragile alliances. While the leaders may emerge with carefully worded statements, the underlying fractures-between nations, ideologies, and leaders-are harder to mask.

Whether Trump’s call for Iran to return to the negotiating table will succeed or further inflame tensions remains uncertain. But as missiles fly and diplomacy falters, the G7 faces its most urgent test in years.