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 on Iran, India and the Russia-Ukraine war.
Trump argued that tensions with Iran began years ago, not in recent months. He said the tensions escalated during his term when they killed Quds Force Commander Qasem Soleimani of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action signed during former U.S. President Barack Obama's tenure, Trump claimed the agreement would have given Iran nuclear weapons and recalled that he cancelled the text. Trump said this was stopped once again with B-2 bomber aircraft.
Speaking about the latest agreement reached with Iran, Trump stated that it is not merely a simple two-paragraph text but rather a very strong document. Trump claimed that Iran's navy and air force have been largely neutralized, that senior Iranian leaders have been killed and that the Tehran administration is ready to make a deal.
Trump also said the U.S. military is the world's most powerful armed force. Citing events in Venezuela as an example, Trump said the process was short and that bilateral relations are now in a good place.
Opening a separate heading on India, Trump said the country plays a major role in every issue and that this role will grow as long as Prime Minister Modi continues his leadership. Stating that India will always have a strong friend in the White House, Trump stressed that relations with New Delhi are very good.
Responding to a question on energy trade, Trump said 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 long-term peace for the region. Stressing that keeping the Strait of Hormuz open is vital for the global economy, Modi said preserving freedom of navigation is a fundamental priority for India as well.
Modi recalled the Indian sailors who died in attacks on ships off the coast of Oman. Saying that thousands of Indian sailors serve on global maritime trade routes including the Strait of Hormuz, Modi stated that their safety is extremely important for India.
Trump also touched on the Russia-Ukraine war, saying he held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin and that those meetings went well. Saying he wants the war to end, Trump noted that the process is nevertheless proving more difficult than expected because Zelenskyy and Putin do not like each other.
