In an unexpected move, US President, Donald Trump and Secretary of State, Marco Rubio left the G7 summit a day early, fueling speculation of a behind-the-scenes push for a ceasefire between Israel and Iran.
The unexpected exit coincided with intensifying hostilities in the Middle East, where both nations have traded strikes for five consecutive days.
Trump offered little detail about his departure, telling reporters that he was leaving early for “obvious reasons.”
However, French President, Emmanuel Macron claimed to reporters at the G7 summit that the US has made an offer for a ceasefire between Israel and Iran.
“There is indeed an offer to meet and exchange. An offer was made especially to get a ceasefire and to then kickstart broader discussions. We have to see now whether the sides will follow.”
Emmanuel Macron
Macron described the move as a positive development. “Right now I believe negotiations need to restart and that civilians need to be protected.”
He added that he didn’t believe things would change in the next few hours, but “since the US assured, they will find a ceasefire and since they can pressure Israel, things may change.”
Macron told reporters, “If the United States can achieve a ceasefire, that’s a very good thing.”
He also called on both Israel and Iran to “end” strikes against civilians and warned that aiming to overthrow the government in Tehran would be a “strategic error.” “All who have thought that by bombing from the outside, you can save a country in spite of itself have always been mistaken,” he said.
At a morning meeting, Trump confirmed that he had received signals through intermediaries that Iran wants to de-escalate the fighting.
White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt said that Trump left the gathering because of “what’s going on in the Middle East while US media reports say the White House is seeking a meeting with Iran’s top diplomat to discuss a ceasefire and a nuclear deal.
However, the US President denied reports that he left the G7 summit early to work on a truce between Israel and Iran.
“Publicity seeking President Emmanuel Macron, of France, mistakenly said that I left the G7 Summit, in Canada, to go back to D.C. to work on a ‘ceasefire’ between Israel and Iran.
“Wrong! He has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a Cease Fire.”
Donald Trump
He said that his return was about something “much bigger than that” and added, “Stay Tuned!”
Trump earlier issued an ominous warning on his Truth Social platform, saying, “Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!”
Israel has been pressing for the US to join the assault, but there was no clear indication that Trump’s return to Washington was a prelude to direct US military action.
The White House and the Pentagon strongly played down any suggestion that the US was about to join the conflict, saying instead the US was maintaining its defensive posture.
However, Trump’s early exit also fanned speculation on the US preparing to join Israel in its attacks.
‘Contradictory Narratives’ In Trump’s Dealing With Iran
Speaking with a news agency, Middle East Analyst, Hassan Mneimneh said that the Trump administration has issued two contradictory narratives on its approach to Iran.
One narrative insists that the US is “just demanding a return to the negotiations” and there is no intent to attack Iran “at the moment.”
The second narrative, which Trump appears to be promoting personally through “snippets and sound bites,” is that the US is colluding with Israel in its war on Iran.
Mneimneh noted that Trump is “applauding what Israel is doing and preparing, it seems, for an action on the part of the US.”
“Which one is it in reality? Clearly, we are not in a position to know. But only the second narrative seems to be supported by facts.
“One cannot conceive of a situation in which the US will accept the type of parity that Iran has succeeded in establishing in terms of causing harm. At least it doesn’t have the ability to destroy any kind of programme in Israel. But the ongoing war does not seem to be able to stop unless there is some sort of US intervention – or a diplomatic one.”
Hassan Mneimneh
With no official confirmation, claims of a ceasefire offer remains speculative. Nonetheless, Trump’s departure has undeniably shifted attention from the G7 summit to the volatile Middle East and what could be unfolding behind the scenes.
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