Trump Returns to G-7 as Middle East Crisis Intensifies

President Donald Trump is attending a Group of Seven summit in Canada, where leaders will try to avoid conflict with him and focus on trade deals to prevent US tariffs.

The summit's unity is threatened by the conflict between Israel and Iran, with Trump calling for a ceasefire while also supporting Israel's defense, and other leaders urging restraint.

Leaders from around the world will attend the summit, seeking to protect their interests and strike trade deals, while trying to avoid confrontations with Trump and maintain a sense of unity. Christopher Smart joins Bloomberg Balance of Power.

Israel will pursue its military operations against Iran regardless of the progress of any potential negotiations involving the US, Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer said in an interview on Bloomberg Television.

“We’re going to go about our operation to remove these two threats,” Dermer said Monday, referring to Iran’s missile and nuclear programs. “Whether Iran will decide to meet with the United States and agree to terms that they should have taken a month ago, or two weeks ago, or two months ago, you know, that’s up to Iran to decide.”

His comments came after US President Donald Trump said Iran wants to talk about de-escalating the four-day old conflict.

Asked about reports that Iran wants to work toward a resolution, Trump responded “yeah,” and added, “they’d like to talk, but they should have done that before.”

“It’s painful for both parties but I would say that Iran is not winning this war,” Trump said at the start of a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at a Group of Seven leaders summit in Kananaskis, Alberta.

Dermer characterized that assessment of Iran’s situation as “very diplomatic,” saying Israel’s military operation is “ahead of schedule.”

He wouldn’t specify how long Israel expects the operation to last, saying only that it plans to continue strikes over the coming days to “set them back several years.”

Israel started attacking Iranian military and nuclear sites late last week, killing several top generals and atomic scientists and achieving air superiority over large parts of the country, including Tehran.

Since Friday, 224 people have been killed in Iran, according to the government, which said most of the casualties were civilians. Iranian attacks killed 24 people in Israel, according to the Israeli government press office, and injured 592.

The US has provided military support defending Israel against missile strikes, using Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and Aegis anti-missile systems and aircraft targeting drones, Dermer said.

Asked about whether the US might join in strikes on Iran itself, he said that’s for Trump to decide.

Trump said he didn’t want to discuss deeper US military involvement when asked about it earlier Monday.

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