'This is big stuff': Trump says to leave G7 early over Iran crisis - Video
US President Donald Trump was on Monday, June 16, leaving a Group of Seven summit early as he hinted of greater involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict and warned Tehran residents to evacuate.
Before flying out of Canada in the middle of the G7 gathering, Trump took to social media to back Israel and issue an alert to the Iranian capital of nearly 10 million people. "Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!" he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
At a group photoshoot with fellow G7 leaders in the scenic mountain resort of Kananaskis, he said: "I have to be back as soon as I can. I wish I could stay for tomorrow, but they understand, this is big stuff."
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Trump would attend the leaders' dinner before returning to the White House. The US president will miss a day of meetings that was expected to include discussions with the leaders of Ukraine and Mexico.
He has repeatedly declined to say if the United States would participate in Israeli military action, although he says it was not involved in initial strikes. Trump told reporters before his decision was announced to leave early: "As soon as I leave here, we're going to be doing something."
The president, who has praised Israel's strikes despite his stated preference for diplomacy, said Iran would be "foolish" not to agree to a negotiated settlement. "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," Trump told reporters as he met Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
