Europeans Lead Frantic Efforts at G7 to De-escalate Conflict Between Iran and Israel

European leaders at the G7 summit in Canada are trying to engineer an Iranian return to the negotiating table using Gulf leaders as intermediaries.

- Patrick Wintour and Peter Walker Banff

Iran, however, is demanding a joint ceasefire with Israel, while Benjamin Netanyahu is resisting the move, and Donald Trump praised the Israeli military campaign, suggesting he does not yet believe it is time to relieve the pressure on Iran.

The US is seen by Iran as critical to putting pressure on Israel, but Trump wants indications that Iran will back down on wanting to continue to pursue the ability to enrich uranium.

Trump is willing to continue to use the Israeli assault as a bargaining chip if necessary.

French, German and British foreign ministers were due collectively to speak to the Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, yesterday to see if Iran would meet the US demand to end all uranium enrichment inside the country, previously a red line for Tehran.

Asked if he had received any messages from Iran suggesting that they wanted to de-escalate the conflict, Trump hinted that he had. "They want to talk," he said.

The US president said that Iran was not winning its conflict with Israel and should re-enter negotiations "before it's too late".

"They have to make a deal, and it's painful for both parties, but I'd say Iran is not winning this war, and they should talk, and they should talk immediately, before it's too late," the US president told reporters at the G7 summit.

He added: "If Iran wants to negotiate, now is the time."

Araghchi appealed to Trump to break with Netanyahu, telling the US president he was being "played" by an Israeli leader who was determined to scuttle a deal Iran and the US were on the verge of sealing.