U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned that the United States could resume military action against Iran if a proposed agreement aimed at ending tensions in the Middle East fails to meet his expectations.
Speaking at the G7 summit in Evian, France, Trump said the agreement, which is expected to be formalized during a signing ceremony in Geneva on Friday, remains incomplete.
“It’s a memorandum of understanding, and if I don’t like it, we’ll go back to shooting at them, dropping bombs on their heads,” Trump said. “I don’t like it if they don’t behave. We’ll go right back to dropping bombs right smack in the middle of their head.”
Trump stressed that the proposed arrangement is not yet a final deal and indicated that future U.S. actions would depend on Iran’s conduct and compliance with the terms under discussion.
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed the G7’s joint declaration backing Ukraine and imposing additional sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
Speaking on the sidelines of the summit, Merz described the agreement as a significant achievement, highlighting what he called renewed cooperation among G7 members.
“This is the first time since President Donald Trump took office that we have issued a joint declaration at a G7 summit and found common language on the major foreign and security policy issues of our time,” Merz said. “I consider that a real success.”
He added that the declaration reflected growing trans-Atlantic unity and determination among Western allies.
“This sets a new tone, including regarding trans-Atlantic unity and resolve,” the German leader said.
Merz noted that discussions among leaders had been conducted “very openly” and “very constructively,” covering a range of pressing international issues.
The German chancellor also reaffirmed Berlin’s willingness to support efforts toward a peace settlement in the Middle East. He said Germany could consider participating in a military mission in the Strait of Hormuz if a lasting ceasefire is achieved.
However, Merz cautioned that several conditions must first be met before any deployment could be considered.
“There is a series of preconditions that are not yet fulfilled, so there is no immediate hurry,” he said.
Any German military involvement would require approval from parliament. Merz noted that lawmakers still have two weeks before the legislature’s summer recess begins in July, meaning there is currently “no time pressure” to make a decision.
Germany’s navy has already begun preparations for a potential mission in the strategically important waterway, despite uncertainty surrounding the security situation.
Relations between Merz and Trump, which initially appeared positive, became strained earlier this year after the German chancellor suggested that the United States was being “humiliated” by Iran during the Middle East conflict.
Leaders of the Group of Seven nations the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, Italy and Japan are meeting in the Alpine town for the annual summit. The Representatives of the European Union and Ukraine are also participating in the gathering, where discussions are focused on global security, economic cooperation and ongoing international conflicts.
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