Trump touts Iran truce as G7 opens in France

President Donald Trump arrived at the Group of Seven summit in France on Monday claiming momentum from a newly signed memorandum with Iran, while allies pressed for answers on Ukraine, the Strait of Hormuz and the terms of any final peace deal.

Trump opened talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Evian-les-Bains by saying the preliminary agreement with Iran was complete and that the crucial shipping lane was beginning to reopen.

“The deal’s all signed,” Trump said alongside Macron. “And the strait is already partially opened.” He said the United States and its partners would be “doing a little hunting” for mines to ensure ships can pass safely.

Macron congratulated Trump on the memorandum signing. A senior U.S. administration official told CBS News that Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf had signed the deal. Trump said the text may not be released until “sometime after Friday,” when a signing ceremony is expected. He said he may not attend, but Vance will.

The memorandum is expected to begin 60 days of negotiations toward a final agreement, CBS News reported. Senior U.S. officials said Britain and France could help place ships in the Strait of Hormuz and assist with reopening the waterway and removing mines. Officials also said unresolved questions remain over how to extract and destroy enriched uranium still in Iran’s possession, how inspections in Iran would work and how safe the strait will be.

Trump framed the agreement as a broad diplomatic success. “I think a lot of great things are going to happen in the Middle East right now, and very importantly the oil price is plummeting down and the stock market is shooting up like a rocket today,” he said. “The Iran deal that we made is going to bring a lot of success to the world.”

The summit brings Trump together with leaders who have clashed with him over the U.S. and Israeli military campaign launched against Iran in late February. European leaders have criticized Trump for not consulting them before the attack. Macron has described the assault as “outside the framework of international law,” NBC News reported. Trump has faulted NATO allies for not joining the operation and previously mocked British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, saying, “This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with.”

Trump told Macron he did not expect much help would be needed in the strait because it was “going to be open,” but added: “I don’t think it’s a bad idea to have a ship or two up here from a few countries. You’d be a great country to do it.”

Ukraine is also set to dominate the summit. Trump said he had spoken with both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. “We had a very good conversation yesterday with President Zelenskyy and President Putin, and I think maybe we can do something there. I really do. I think they’re both open to it,” he said.

Zelenskyy is scheduled to join G7 leaders Tuesday for talks on ending the war. A Ukrainian official familiar with the matter told The Associated Press that Zelenskyy had offered to meet Putin with Trump and European leaders at the summit, but the Kremlin did not respond. Putin is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes, and France, as an ICC member, would be obliged to arrest him. The United States and Russia both oppose the court.

European governments want continued support for Ukraine and oppose any settlement that forces Kyiv to cede territory to Russia, NBC News reported. A senior Trump administration official said last week: “We need the war to end. We’re happy to have that happen, however possible.”

Beyond Iran and Ukraine, G7 leaders are expected to discuss economic growth, supply chain resilience, immigration, global economic imbalances, artificial intelligence, international development and China’s dominance in rare earth minerals. Trump is also scheduled to meet leaders from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and India before leaving France on Wednesday, after a private dinner with Macron at the Palace of Versailles.