President Donald Trump does not intend to sign a statement currently being drafted by world leaders at the G7 summit, calling for de-escalation between Israel and Iran, according to two U.S. officials.
The draft commits to safeguarding market stability, including energy markets and says Israel has the right to defend itself, according to officials.
One U.S. official told ABC News that the president, so far, has not felt a need to sign the statement, as he has already spoken out publicly about the ongoing conflict and made his position clear.
“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 when asked about Trump not signing the joint statement.
The delegations representing the other countries will continue to work through the language in hopes of finalizing a statement, according to a source familiar with the discussions.
It is typical for the leaders to release communiqué that conveys a shared consensus. In 2017, Trump was the only G7 leader not to endorse the Paris Agreement. At the time, the section on climate change acknowledged the United States was “not in a position to join the consensus on these topics.”
Earlier Monday, Trump said that Iran wants to “talk” about de-escalation as aerial attacks continue between Tehran and Israel.
Trump took questions on the deepening conflict as he met with Canadian Prime Minster Mark Carney at the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, on Monday.
“They’d like to talk, but they should have done that before,” Trump said of Iran. “I had 60 days, and they had 60 days. And on the 61st day I said, ‘We don’t have a deal.’ They have to make a deal.”
“It’s painful for both parties, but I’d say Iran is not winning this war,” Trump continued. “And they should talk, and they should talk immediately before it’s too late.”
The U.S. president would not comment on what it would take for the United States to get involved militarily.
“I don’t want to talk about that,” Trump told reporters.
