The summit, hosted by Canada under its current G7 presidency, brings together the world’s seven major economies along with guest nations including Ukraine and South Africa.
But what was expected to be a forum for long-standing economic discussions and global trade tensions is now being overshadowed by urgent geopolitical turmoil.
US President Donald Trump told reporters before heading to the summit that he hoped for a peaceful resolution to the Iran-Israel clash but the two enemies may have to keep fighting.
"Well I hope there's going to be a deal. I think it's time for a deal and we'll see what happens but sometimes they have to fight it out but we're going to see what happens. I think there's a good chance there will be a deal," he said.
Trump declined to say if he requested Israel pause its attacks on Iran but said Washington would continue to aid Israel's defense against Iranian missiles.
Conversations that were originally expected to focus on peace efforts in Ukraine and Gaza have now pivoted sharply to the Iran-Israel conflict. The G7 agenda has been thrown into disarray as leaders scramble to respond to the escalating violence between Tehran and Tel Aviv.
“We do have longstanding concerns about the nuclear program Iran has," said British Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaking on a flight to Canada Sunday.
"We do recognize Israel’s right to self-defense, but I’m absolutely clear that this needs to de-escalate. There is a huge risk of escalation for the region and more widely,”
Trump earlier told ABC News he believes peace between Iran and Israel is likely, and that recent military strikes could pressure Tehran into agreeing to a nuclear deal in the near future.
"Something like this had to happen because I think even from both sides, but something like this had to happen. They want to talk, and they will be talking," Trump said.
Trump also expressed optimism about a potential Russian mediation between the two sides.
The president said the US will continue to support Israel but declined to confirm or deny if he asked Israel to pause strikes, he said speaking to reporters as he left for the G7 summit in Canada.
French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday he hoped tensions between Iran and Israel would de-escalate “in the coming hours,” and urged a return to nuclear negotiations with Tehran.
Talks in limbo
Negotiations between the United States and Iran, previously scheduled for Sunday, were abruptly derailed after several members of Iran’s delegation were allegedly killed in an Israeli airstrike.
The G7 has the ability to help close the cycle of violence in the Middle East, said Iran analyst Behnam Ben Taleblu of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD).
World leaders need to remind Tehran "the sharp choice it faces: trade away your nuclear program or watch it, and perhaps the rest of your military capabilities, be taken away from you," Taleblu told Iran International.
President Trump has said the US may consider direct involvement in Israeli military efforts, though he also expressed openness to Russian mediation as a possible diplomatic solution. Meanwhile, Washington has committed to deploying additional warships and military assets to the Middle East.
