Trump Arrives at G7 Summit Riding Iran Deal Momentum, Seeking Global Backing/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump arrived at the G7 summit in France after announcing an agreement aimed at ending the Iran war. The tentative deal could reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ease global energy pressures. World leaders welcomed the agreement, though major questions remain over Iran’s nuclear program.
Trump G7 Summit and Iran Deal Quick Looks
- Trump arrived in France for the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains.
- The U.S. and Iran announced a tentative agreement to end the war.
- The Strait of Hormuz is expected to reopen after the deal is signed.
- Vice President JD Vance said the agreement text could be released soon.
- European allies are discussing demining operations in the Gulf.
- Trump renewed tariff threats against French wines over digital taxes.
- Ukraine and Middle East conflicts are expected to dominate summit discussions.
Deep Look
Trump Arrives at G7 With New Diplomatic Momentum
President Donald Trump arrived in the French Alps on Monday for the Group of Seven summit carrying fresh diplomatic momentum following the announcement of a tentative agreement aimed at ending the U.S.-Iran war.
The agreement, if finalized, would mark a major geopolitical shift after more than three months of conflict that disrupted global energy markets, heightened regional tensions and fueled concerns among U.S. allies.
Trump landed in Évian-les-Bains with what many observers view as a strengthened position ahead of meetings with world leaders who had sharply criticized aspects of Washington’s handling of the conflict.
The president celebrated the agreement in characteristic fashion.
“Ships of the World, start your engines,” Trump wrote on social media.
“Let the oil flow!”
The statement referenced plans to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway through which roughly 20% of global crude oil shipments passed before the conflict disrupted traffic.
Ambassador Charles Kushner, the father of Trump’s son-in-law, greeted president upon arrival at G7
Kushner is Trump’s chief envoy to France, a plum diplomatic assignment, and was there to welcome Trump after Marine One landed in Evian-les-Bains.
His son, Jared Kushner, serves as an envoy in the negotiations with Iran and is also assisting ongoing efforts by the administration to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
Charles Kushner, a real estate developer, was pardoned by Trump at the end of his first term after pleading guilty years earlier to tax evasion and making illegal campaign donations.
Vance says deal has been ‘digitally’ signed
The U.S. vice president disclosed that an interim deal to end the conflict in Iran was electronically signed Sunday ahead of a formal signing ceremony in Switzerland.
The signing ceremony is slated for Friday in Geneva, where Trump landed on his way to attend the Group of 7 summit in France.
“We already signed the deal digitally yesterday, and there’s been no money released, and that won’t change,” Vance said on “Good Morning America.” “Again, this is a performance-based thing.”
Critics of the agreement, as well as reports in Iranian media, have said assets would be released once the deal was signed. But Vance said that’s “not true.”
“We’ll be releasing the text this week, and what everybody will see is that Iran doesn’t get a dime of money unless they perform their obligations,” he added.
Iran Deal Remains Tentative Despite Optimism
Despite the upbeat messaging from Washington, the agreement remains incomplete.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi emphasized that Tehran would not reopen the strait until the accord is formally signed.
Pakistan, which played a central mediation role, said officials will hold pre-implementation discussions this week ahead of technical negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program.
The formal signing is expected to take place later this week in Geneva.
Vice President JD Vance signaled that additional details may soon become public.
“The White House hopes to release the text of the agreement in the coming days,” Vance told CNBC.
The lack of publicly available details has fueled questions about enforcement mechanisms, sanctions relief and the future of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile.
G7 Agenda Shifts Toward Middle East Security
The Iran agreement is expected to reshape discussions at the G7 summit.
French President Emmanuel Macron, the summit host, has invited leaders from Egypt, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to participate in Middle East discussions scheduled for Tuesday.
European leaders have welcomed the diplomatic breakthrough.
The leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Canada jointly described the agreement as a “moment of opportunity to restore regional stability and stabilize the global economy.”
One immediate concern is ensuring safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
The White House says Trump plans to discuss demining operations with allies. Britain and France have already expressed interest in assisting.
Macron said France is prepared to move quickly.
“Very quickly,” Macron said regarding deploying assets to help secure the waterway.
He added that French naval assets, including an aircraft carrier strike group, are already positioned in the region.
Trade Tensions Shadow Trump-Macron Meeting
Even as diplomacy advances on Iran, trade disputes threaten to create friction at the summit.
Before departing for France, Trump renewed threats to impose tariffs on French wine unless Paris eliminates its digital services tax on American technology firms.
The president warned that the U.S. would have “no choice” but to impose 100% tariffs on French wines and champagne if the tax remains in place.
France currently applies a digital tax targeting large global technology companies.
Macron pushed back against Trump’s criticism.
“It’s not for the United States to decide what European or French law should be,” Macron said during an interview with TF1.
Trump and Macron are expected to hold bilateral talks before joining other G7 leaders for a working dinner.
Questions Persist Over Iran’s Nuclear Program
Although Trump has portrayed the agreement as fundamentally different from the Obama-era nuclear accord, critics across the political spectrum remain skeptical.
Trump withdrew from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action during his first term, arguing it failed to prevent Iran from developing nuclear capabilities.
In defending the new agreement, Trump contrasted it with the previous deal.
“We negotiated from strength,” Trump said.
“He was basically paying them off.”
However, unresolved questions remain regarding who will verify Iranian compliance and what will happen to nearly 972 pounds of highly enriched uranium reportedly buried beneath damaged nuclear sites.
Democrats have raised concerns about the agreement’s structure.
“Now it is America going alone or going with Israel only, and that does not make us safer,” Sen. Mark Warner said on CBS’ Face the Nation.
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham also expressed caution.
“I am somewhat concerned that Iran’s view of the agreement seems different than what the American negotiating team is claiming,” Graham wrote on social media.
Ukraine War Also Looms Over Summit
Beyond Iran, the ongoing war in Ukraine remains a major focus of the G7 gathering.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to participate in discussions Tuesday.
Ahead of the summit, Trump held separate phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyy later indicated additional talks are planned.
“We agreed to discuss more during our meeting at the G7 summit,” he said.
As world leaders gather in France, Trump faces an opportunity to translate recent diplomatic gains into broader international support—while balancing challenges ranging from trade disputes to ongoing wars.
Whether the Iran agreement delivers lasting peace may ultimately determine the summit’s legacy.
Macron seeks Trump’s backing for Ukraine and more pressure on Russia
The French president says he’ll seek to persuade President Trump to continue supporting Ukraine and increase pressure on Russia to help reach a peace agreement.
Macron is to meet later Monday with Trump at a G7 summit in the French resort town of Evian-les-Bains, which Ukrainian Zelenskyy is expected to join Tuesday for talks.
Macron said he wants the United States to say: “We are with you, we will continue to support Ukraine, and we will increase the pressure on Russia to achieve a meaningful negotiation,” speaking in an interview with French broadcaster TF1.
“The right negotiation is one in which Ukraine and Russia are at the table, but with Europeans and Americans present as well,” Macron said.
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