TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - US President Donald Trump used the Group of Seven (G7) summit in France to promote a preliminary agreement with Iran, arguing that the deal could ease tensions in the Middle East and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while signaling that the war in Ukraine remains a lower priority for the United States.
The summit in Évian-les-Bains opened under less tension than many leaders had expected after Washington and Tehran announced a preliminary agreement aimed at reopening the strategic waterway and continuing negotiations over Iran's nuclear program.
Trump described the agreement as a fair arrangement and said the next phase of negotiations would focus on technical aspects of Iran's nuclear capabilities and maritime security. "We have a deal that's a fair deal. It's a good deal," the US president said.
As reported by NPR, Trump reiterated that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains his central objective and insisted that Tehran would face severe consequences if it pursued such ambitions. He also emphasized that maintaining toll-free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz was a key component of the agreement.
The details of the accord have not yet been released. Trump said he may publicly read the agreement during a ceremonial signing scheduled for Friday.
Despite the positive tone surrounding the Iran breakthrough, significant questions remain unresolved, including the future of Iran's remaining nuclear material and the extent of any sanctions relief.
Katherine Thompson, a former Middle East policy official at the Pentagon who now works at the Cato Institute, said the most difficult phase is still ahead.
"The next 60 days is really where the money of this deal is either made or not made," Thompson said.
European leaders largely welcomed the agreement, viewing it as a potential step toward restoring stability to global energy markets. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important shipping routes for oil and natural gas.
According to The New York Times, European leaders have pledged to deploy naval assets to help secure the waterway once it becomes clear that the cease-fire arrangement will hold. Britain and France have indicated that ships could be sent quickly to assist maritime traffic through the strait.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised the diplomatic breakthrough, saying the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz would help reduce pressure on global energy prices.
The Iran agreement also appeared to improve the atmosphere between Trump and several European leaders after months of tensions over trade, security, and the Middle East conflict.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz presented Trump with a German national soccer jersey bearing the number 47, referring to Trump's position as the 47th president of the United States. French President Emmanuel Macron also hosted Trump for a dinner at Versailles as part of events marking the 250th anniversary of American independence.
Still, major disagreements surfaced during discussions about Ukraine.
'Nothing to Do With Ukraine'
Trump signaled that the war was not a primary concern for Washington, stressing that the conflict has little direct impact on the United States.
"We have nothing to do with it," Trump told reporters after a closed-door discussion on Ukraine. "It has no impact on us, other than we sell weapons. We're thousands of miles away."
The remarks highlighted growing concern among European leaders that they may need to assume a larger role in supporting Ukraine as Washington's attention shifts elsewhere.
Trump said he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the summit and planned additional discussions. He also stated that he could soon reimpose sanctions on Russian oil exports now that the Iran agreement could help stabilize energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.
Zelensky used the summit to press allies for additional air-defense systems as Russia intensifies missile and drone attacks. The Ukrainian leader said he raised the issue directly with Trump during their meeting.
Meanwhile, Ukraine continued its campaign against Russian energy infrastructure. Zelensky announced that Ukrainian drones had targeted an oil refinery in Moscow located roughly 10 miles from the Kremlin.
The summit also exposed divisions over Israel's military operations in Lebanon. Trump publicly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying Israel needed to act more responsibly regarding strikes against Hezbollah.
"I've had a great relationship with Bibi, but now Bibi has to be more responsible with respect to Lebanon," Trump said.
Observers said the coming weeks will determine whether the Iran agreement develops into a lasting framework or becomes another temporary pause in regional tensions. At the same time, European leaders continue to seek greater US engagement on Ukraine even as Trump focuses increasingly on conflicts and negotiations elsewhere.
The G7 summit concludes on Wednesday with additional meetings involving leaders from Ukraine, India, Qatar, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates.
Read: France Says G7 Eyes Escorting Vessels in Middle East Amid War
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