President Donald Trump told the G7 summit Wednesday that the alternative to the emerging nuclear deal with Iran is a global recession, dismissively framing opposition as foolish. He also declared in the meeting, '99.9% that Iran won't have nuclear weapons,' reiterating his confidence in the agreement's terms. The remarks, reported by Israeli media including Ariel Kahana (Israel Hayom), came as Trump arrived late to the leaders' session and declared 'I'm the boss.'
President Donald Trump delivered a combative performance at the opening of the G7 summit in France on Wednesday, arriving late and immediately asserting dominance. In remarks reported by Israeli outlets including Ariel Kahana (Israel Hayom), Trump framed the emerging nuclear deal with Iran in stark economic terms: 'The alternative to the deal is a global recession that only stupid people would want.' The line appeared to be aimed at critics of the agreement, including some Republican voices and Israeli figures who have expressed skepticism.
Trump also reiterated his confidence in the pact's nonproliferation guarantees, telling fellow leaders: '99.9% that Iran won't have nuclear weapons.' The claim follows a series of statements from the president over the past 72 hours in which he has alternately declared the deal complete, mocked its enforcement clauses, and denied reports of U.S. payments to Tehran.
Wednesday's remarks mark the second day of the G7 summit, which is being held in Biarritz, France. The Iran deal, along with the war in Ukraine and trade tensions with China, has dominated the agenda. Trump's 'I'm the boss' quip upon entering the room — covered in earlier Zioneer bulletins — set the tone for a summit in which the U.S. president is expected to press allies to accept his transactional, unilateralist approach to foreign policy.
As The Zioneer reported earlier Wednesday, Trump also told the summit that reports of a $300 million U.S. payment to Iran are 'fake news,' and promised to publish the deal text to distinguish it from the 2015 JCPOA. The White House has not yet released the text. No other G7 leader has publicly endorsed the deal's terms as described by Trump.
4 developments
- StrongTrump: Strait of Hormuz fully open by Friday, Iran will not get nuclear weapons
- StrongTrump says tankers are sailing out of Strait of Hormuz, contradicting Iranian reports
- StrongTrump says Strait of Hormuz to reopen as early as Saturday or Monday
- DevelopingReport: Trump demands immediate, non-phased reopening of Strait of Hormuz and end to naval blockade
Source and signal
- Internal intake