G7 opens with interim Iran deal and Ukraine push at Evian

Donald Trump touched down in France for the G7 summit this week and immediately declared that a deal with Iran was all but done. Speaking to reporters upon arrival, the president said the Strait of Hormuz would be completely open by Friday, oil prices were already falling, and the stock market was surging. He stressed that Iran had agreed to forgo nuclear weapons under strong policing, calling it the core achievement of the talks.

A formal signing is set for Geneva on Friday, with technical work led by Vice President JD Vance set to follow in a 60-day window. That window is meant to sort out details on Iran's enriched uranium stockpile and the lifting of sanctions. Trump sounded confident that the main goals had been met and that major improvements were coming to the Middle East.

European hosts rolled out the usual welcome, complete with personalized gifts and adjusted schedules. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz presented Trump with a custom Germany World Cup jersey bearing the name "Trump" and the number 47. The president held it up for photos while other leaders smiled and clapped. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer joined in the round of pleasantries, even though relations had been strained for months over tariffs, NATO spending, and Middle East policy. The summit date itself had been shifted to let Trump celebrate his 80th birthday back home with a UFC event.

Not everyone is convinced the Iran arrangement is airtight. The Strait of Hormuz remains mined in places after recent fighting, and Israeli forces have continued limited operations in Lebanon despite the ceasefire. Analysts in Israel note that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's earlier goals of regime change in Tehran and total destruction of Iran's nuclear sites were not achieved. Netanyahu has kept his distance from the talks and said Israel will hold the ground it occupies in Lebanon.

European officials at the summit are pressing for a more detailed final text. They worry that a quick framework could leave gaps on ballistic missiles and verification. Macron said the group wants a solid agreement and plans to discuss a possible maritime mission to secure the strait plus alternative energy routes. Leaders from the UAE, Qatar, and Egypt joined parts of the talks but stayed out of the nuclear specifics.

Trump also scheduled a one-on-one session with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The two were set to meet after a larger group session that included other G7 members. Trump told reporters that Russia and Ukraine had both suffered heavy losses and that a deal was needed. European allies continue to push for any Ukraine settlement to reflect Kyiv's conditions, while Trump has stressed that endless aid without results serves no one.

The gathering comes after repeated public friction between Trump and European capitals on multiple fronts. Yet the atmosphere this week has been marked by handshakes, shared meals, and efforts to keep the president engaged. Trump has long argued that past U.S. policy in the region only produced costly stalemates. Whether the current Iran framework holds up under scrutiny will be tested in the weeks ahead.