During a press briefing at the G7 summit in the picturesque wilderness outside Calgary, Alberta, President Donald Trump revealed that Iran has initiated backchannel communications with the United States, signaling a possible turn toward diplomacy amid intensifying conflict between Israel and Iran. Trump characterized the outreach as a positive sign, suggesting that Iran is now seeking to de-escalate. However, he added that such efforts should have come much sooner.
President Trump’s announcement comes as Israel asserts full air superiority over Tehran, following a series of extensive airstrikes targeting Iranian military and nuclear facilities. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) report that more than 120 missile launchers have been destroyed, and Iran’s air defense systems significantly weakened — enabling Israeli aircraft to operate over Iranian territory with minimal resistance. Ongoing aerial sorties have resulted in heavy casualties and widespread infrastructure damage across the country. (RELATED: Trump Vetoed Plot To Assassinate World Leader)
Trump recently told ABC News that the United States is not currently engaged offensively in the ongoing military conflict, but did not rule out future involvement, stating, “It’s possible we could get involved.” He reiterated his preference for a diplomatic resolution, suggesting that the current crisis presents an opportunity for Iran to return to the negotiating table:
Trump also shared that he had a lengthy call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday to discuss, in large part, the conflict in the Middle East.
The president told ABC News he would be “open” to Putin’s idea to serve as a mediator between Iran and Israel.
“I would be open to it. [Putin] is ready. He called me about it. We had a long talk about it. We talked about this more than his situation. This is something I believe is going to get resolved,” Trump stated.
The president’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, was set to travel to Oman on Sunday for another round of nuclear talks with Iranian officials. But following Israel’s strikes, Iran called off the meeting. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the nuclear negotiations “unjustifiable” after the attacks, which he said were carried out with the support of the U.S.
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