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Trump presses Netanyahu, Iran deal
At the G7 summit in France, US President Donald Trump told reporters that Benjamin Netanyahu must be "more responsible" in Lebanon and said, "I've had a great relationship with Bibi [Mr Netanyahu], but now Bibi has to be more responsible with respect to Lebanon."
“G7 leaders agree to increase pressure on Russia over Ukraine war Following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s arrival at the G7 summit in France, the U”
Trump also suggested asking Syria to fight Hezbollah in Lebanon, saying, "If Israel can't do the job without killing everyone else, it'll do the job, Syria will do the job."
The US and Iran are set to formally sign a memorandum of understanding later this week, but the text has not been made public, while Iran insists Israel must withdraw its forces from Lebanon under the terms of its deal with the US.
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said, "The end of the war also includes the end of occupation," and warned that any attack by the Zionist regime on Lebanon would be considered a violation of the memorandum of understanding.
On Monday, Israel launched an attack on a claimed Hezbollah command centre in southern Beirut during the final hours of negotiations between the US and Iran, prompting another heated phone call in which Trump demanded Netanyahu halt any further attacks.
G7 pressure on Russia
At the G7 leaders’ summit in France, Trump suggested the US may reinstate sanctions on Russian oil, telling reporters, “We took sanctions off because obviously we're not looking to impede the oil,” and adding, “But we're in a position to do that soon.”
Politico reported that Trump’s comments came after leaders met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss the war in its fifth year, and that the leaders agreed to increase economic pressure on Moscow and force Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table.
The Canadian government said its sanctions would target “a total of 162 individuals, entities, and vessels — all assets of the Russian war machine,” while the UK package included “70 new sanctions against Russia's shadow fleet, defence supply chains and illegal financial networks used to circumvent sanctions.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told reporters in Evian that he had, "seen Trump in a cooperative mood," and said, "I have a certain optimism that Europeans and Americans [will] do everything to end this war."
France 24’s international affairs editor Kethevane Gorjestani said the summit would likely see Zelensky and European leaders join forces to persuade Trump to increase support for Ukraine and up sanctions on Moscow.
Sanctions, negotiations, and stakes
The US suspended sanctions on Russian oil to decrease energy prices after gas prices increased due to the war with Iran, and Trump’s statements at the G7 summit came as European allies sought to keep pressure on Russia while Washington mediated between Moscow and Kiev.
“In short: US President Donald Trump says Benjamin Netanyahu must be "more responsible" in Lebanon and suggests asking Syria to fight Hezbollah "if Israel can't do the job without killing everyone else"”
DW reported that Trump said, "I'm gonna do whatever I can" to stop the killing and told reporters, "Russia should make a deal," after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prior to making the statement.
Ursula von der Leyen wrote on X that it was time to "double down on our support," and said, "The tide is turning for Ukraine," as Ukraine was described as in a "position of strength" while Russia was "under pressure."
Radio France described French ICC judge Nicolas Guillou warning that US sanctions were "an attack on the rule of law, on judicial independence, and on the work of this court," and said, "This kind of pressure is meant to scare."
In the same Radio France account, Guillou said the ICC has 125 member states and that it is tasked with judging "the gravest crimes — war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide" when countries involved cannot or do not want to prosecute themselves.
