U.S. President Donald Trump met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the G7 Leaders Summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, and made statements regarding Iran, India, and the Russia-Ukraine war.
Trump argued that tensions with Iran began years ago, not in recent months. He said that the tensions escalated during his term when they killed Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, who was part of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Trump also touched on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action signed during the tenure of former U.S. President Barack Obama, recalling that he canceled the deal because it would have given Iran a nuclear weapon. Trump said that this was once again halted with B-2 bomber aircraft.
Speaking about the latest agreement reached with Iran, Trump stated that it was not just a simple two-paragraph text, but rather a very strong document. Trump claimed that the Iranian navy and air force had been largely neutralized, that senior Iranian leaders had been killed, and that the Tehran administration was ready to make a deal.
Trump also said that the U.S. military is the world's most powerful military force. Citing the events in Venezuela as an example, Trump said that the process was short and that bilateral relations between the two countries are now in a good place.
Turning to India, Trump said that the country plays a major role in every area and that this role will grow as long as Prime Minister Modi continues to lead. Trump stated that India will always have a strong friend in the White House, and emphasized that relations with New Delhi are very good.
Responding to a question about energy trade, Trump said that India can do whatever it wants with the U.S. and that the relationship between the two countries could not be closer than it is now.
Modi said he was pleased with the agreement reached between Iran and the U.S. and expressed hope that it could contribute to lasting peace in the region. Emphasizing that keeping the Strait of Hormuz open is vital for the global economy, Modi said that preserving freedom of navigation is also a fundamental priority for India.
Modi recalled the Indian sailors who died in the U.S. attacks on ships off the coast of Oman. Stating that thousands of Indian sailors serve on global maritime trade routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, Modi said that their safety is extremely important for India.
Trump also touched on the Russia-Ukraine war, saying that he had held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, and that those talks went well. Trump said he wants the war to end, but noted that the process is more difficult than expected because Zelenskiy and Putin do not like each other.
