Washington (Web Desk): Amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, US President Donald Trump unexpectedly announced he would leave the G7 summit in Canada a day earlier than planned to return to Washington.
This decision came shortly after he posted a series of ominous messages on social media urging everyone in Tehran to evacuate immediately and emphasizing that Iran should never be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noted on X that significant progress had been made during Trump’s meetings with other world leaders at the summit, but due to the developments in the Middle East, the president would be departing following dinner with the heads of state.
The announcement of Trump’s altered schedule came soon after his posts on Truth Social, which struck a grim tone toward Iran and clearly aimed to pressure the Iranian leadership.
In one post, Trump stated, “AMERICA FIRST means many GREAT things, including the fact that, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON,” and ended with a stark warning: “Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!”
Diplomatic analysts were puzzled by this call for evacuation in a city of 10 million people, especially since it followed an Israeli government evacuation order for northern Tehran amid its expanding military campaign.
The New York Times reported that Trump is considering a critical decision in the deadly conflict: whether to assist Israel in destroying Iran’s deeply buried nuclear enrichment site at Fordo. Such a strike would require the use of America’s largest bunker-buster bombs, dropped by B-2 bombers.
If the US proceeds, it would become a direct participant in the Middle East conflict, despite Trump’s previous campaign promises to avoid such wars. Iranian officials have warned that any US involvement would end any remaining chances of a nuclear disarmament deal that Trump claims to still want.
Meanwhile, Pentagon and White House spokespersons maintained that US forces in the region were holding a defensive posture. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell posted on X that American forces would continue to protect troops and US interests without shifting from their current stance.
Since Friday, Israel and Iran have exchanged missile strikes, with Israel targeting Iranian nuclear sites and killing several high-ranking military leaders. While the Trump administration described Israel’s initial strikes as unilateral, reports indicate the U.S. assisted Israel in intercepting retaliatory Iranian attacks.
Following Israel’s strikes, Trump suggested Iran might have a “second chance” to agree to limits on its nuclear program.
However, his increasingly stern posts and sudden early departure from the G7 summit could indicate an impending escalation of the conflict.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to rule out targeting Iran’s supreme leader, despite Trump reportedly advising against such a move. Israeli forces claimed they have damaged Iran’s air defense systems, gaining air superiority and the capacity to strike at will.
Trump arrived at the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Canada, on Sunday and met with leaders from Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the European Commission on Monday. He was scheduled to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Tuesday, followed by a press conference before departing that evening.
However, after posing for the G7 “family photo,” Trump told the press that the Middle East events left him no choice but to return to Washington as soon as possible.
He emphasized that his decision was not related to anything occurring at the summit and expressed regret at not being able to stay for the full agenda, noting that other leaders understood.
Earlier Monday, in between meetings, Trump made it clear that Iran was not winning the conflict and urged the country to negotiate immediately before it was too late. Later, when asked again about Iran, he appeared more hopeful, stating that Iran was essentially at the negotiating table and that “as soon as I leave here we’re going to be doing something.”