live Iran, U.S. make competing claims over control of Strait of Hormuz
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz remains under its control, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of “total control” over t...
President Donald Trump is cutting short his G7 trip and returning to Washington DC as tensions soar between Iran and Israel. After urging civilians to evacuate Tehran and warning Iran against nuclear ambitions, Trump said he must be back "for obvious reasons" amid rising fears of regional war.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed the decision on Monday evening, stating that President Trump would return to the US capital "after dinner with Heads of State."
"President Trump had a great day at the G7, even signing a major trade deal with the United Kingdom and Prime Minister Keir Starmer," Leavitt said on X.
"Much was accomplished, but because of what’s going on in the Middle East, President Trump will be leaving tonight," added Leavitt.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said he had to leave.
"I have to be back early for obvious reasons. I wish I could stay for tomorrow, but they understand this. This is big stuff. You probably see what I see, and I have to be back as soon as I can."
Fox News later reported that the President had requested the National Security Council convene in the White House Situation Room ahead of his arrival.
Tensions between Iran and Israel have reached boiling point following Israel’s airstrikes on Friday (13 June) and drone attacks targeting multiple Iranian military and nuclear facilities. In retaliation, Tehran launched its own strikes on Israeli assets, deepening fears of a regional war.
On Monday, Trump posted an urgent warning on Truth Social, calling on civilians to leave Tehran immediately.
"Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!" he wrote.
He blames Iran for refusing to sign what he called “the deal” to stop uranium enrichment and insisted, once again that "Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon."
"Iran should have signed the ‘deal’ I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again!," he added.
Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons and has pointed to its right to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, including enrichment, as a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The White House has not confirmed whether military options are on the table, but Trump’s accelerated return and urgent security meetings point to heightened concerns about the trajectory of the conflict.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Fox News on Monday that President Donald Trump was still aiming for a nuclear deal with Iran, while a White House aide said separately that Washington was not attacking Iran.
The G7 summit, which continues on Tuesday without the US president, was expected to focus on trade and global security.
Disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has increased the strategic importance of Bab al-Mandab, raising fears that instability in both waterways could trigger a wider global energy and trade crisis.
Flights at Catania airport in Sicily will remain suspended until early Friday as ash from Mount Etna continues to disrupt air travel, following hundreds of cancellations and diversions over the past week.
Iran and the United States remain at loggerheads over efforts to agree a permanent end to the war in the Gulf, according to a senior Iranian source who said there had been no progress in talks to revive the interim deal agreed in June and define a timeframe to implement it.
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz remains under its control, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of “total control” over the strategic waterway and insisting it will not reopen until Washington fulfils its commitments under an interim deal.
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