G7 leaders meet in France as US-Iran deal looms over summit

Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) major economies are set to meet at a lakeside resort in France on June 15, just after the United States and Iran announced they had reached a preliminary agreement aimed at ending their war.

The Iran deal is expected to be a key topic at the June 15–17 summit, alongside discussions on the war in Ukraine, global economic imbalances, and efforts to secure critical minerals outside of China’s dominance, Caliber.Az reports, citing Reuters.

US President Donald Trump is due to arrive in Evian-les-Bains for the gathering amid growing unease among global leaders over Washington’s foreign policy direction. French officials, however, welcomed his attendance after he left last year’s G7 summit in Canada early.

Many G7 leaders have been affected by Trump’s unpredictable policy shifts, which have disrupted dynamics in the Middle East, global trade, and diplomacy, raising broader questions about US commitment to the post-war international order.

During the summit, Trump is expected to hold talks with Middle Eastern leaders and attend a working session with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiyy.

Zelenskiyy’s meeting on Tuesday comes as Russian advances in Ukraine have slowed, while Kyiv seeks additional military support from its allies.

His position has strengthened since Trump’s previous remarks in the Oval Office last year, when he told him: “You don’t have the cards”.

However, Ukraine may struggle to secure significantly greater US backing as Trump focuses on consolidating the Iran agreement, which has already faced mixed reactions domestically.

G7 leaders are expected to seek clarity on the details of the US–Iran deal. A memorandum of understanding is scheduled to be signed in Switzerland on Friday, although full terms have not yet been disclosed.

Trump said the Strait of Hormuz — a vital global shipping route for oil and gas that Iran has effectively blocked for months — would reopen on Friday, and that he had ordered an end to the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports.

In a statement, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said hostilities and military operations across all fronts, including Lebanon, would cease permanently starting Monday night.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said a broader agreement would be negotiated during a 60-day ceasefire period, including potential sanctions relief. Iran’s nuclear program would be addressed in later talks, according to sources cited by Reuters.

The United Arab Emirates — directly affected by the conflict — along with mediators Qatar and Egypt, are also expected to attend the summit.

Trump will be welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron, for whom the summit represents a key diplomatic moment in his final year in office.

Although Macron is increasingly seen as politically weakened at home, he continues to play an active role on the global stage and has arranged a high-profile dinner with Trump at the Palace of Versailles.

France, holding the G7 presidency, is using the summit to push discussions on global economic imbalances, an issue long raised by the United States. The framework argues that China overproduces, the U.S. overconsumes, and Europe underinvests.

Brazil, India, Kenya, and South Korea have also been invited to participate in parts of the discussions, while Macron has urged China to increase domestic consumption.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov