Onboard Air Force One, President Donald Trump told reporters he wants a “real end” to the nuclear issue with Iran. According to CBS, Trump insisted that Iran must “give up entirely” on developing nuclear weapons and have its existing nuclear program completely “wiped out,” rather than settling for a temporary ceasefire in the region.
Unclear Next Steps as Trump Returns to Washington
Trump has not detailed his plans after returning to the US capital. While world leaders gathered in Alberta for a summit, fighting between Israel and Iran escalated. Israel intensified its bombardment of Iranian targets aimed at disabling its nuclear capabilities. In response, Iran launched large-scale missile and drone attacks against Israel.
Tehran Evacuation Warning and Diplomatic Signals
Earlier on Monday, Trump urged residents of Tehran to evacuate the city, warning Iran to halt its nuclear ambitions and seek a diplomatic solution. When asked about this evacuation call, Trump said his priority was people’s safety, CBS reported. He also noted that Israel continued its attacks without pause.
Potential High-Level US Envoy to Iran
Trump mentioned he might send a senior official—such as Middle East envoy Steven Witkoff or Vice President JD Vance—to engage with Iran. However, he said this decision would depend on developments once he returns to Washington.
Military Action and Warnings Against Retaliation
Asked if US military involvement could destroy Iran’s nuclear program, Trump expressed hope that it would be “wiped out long before that.” He issued a stern warning to Iran against retaliating against the US, saying he was ready to “come down so hard” if Iran targeted Americans.
French President Macron’s Comment and Trump’s Response
French President Emmanuel Macron suggested that Trump’s early exit from the Group of Seven summit could indicate progress toward a ceasefire. Macron told reporters that a US-led ceasefire “would be a good thing.”
Trump strongly disputed Macron’s interpretation in a Truth Social post, stating:
“Publicity seeking President Emmanuel Macron, of France, mistakenly said that I left the G7 Summit… to work on a ‘cease fire’ between Israel and Iran. Wrong! He has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a Cease Fire. Much bigger than that. Whether purposely or not, Emmanuel always gets it wrong. Stay Tuned!”
White House Statement on Trump’s Departure
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that Trump’s trip back to Washington was to “attend to many important matters,” adding in a follow-up post on X that his departure was related to “what’s going on in the Middle East.”
