Trump to Meet Middle East Leaders at G7, Without Netanyahu

A senior US administration official said on Saturday that, at the G7 summit opening Monday in France, President Donald Trump is expected to meet separately with leaders from the Middle East, including representatives from Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. The meetings are meant for bilateral talks and for discussions about efforts to end the war with Iran.

The official stressed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not expected to take part in those talks with Trump. The report was first carried by Reuters.

The same official also addressed negotiations with Iran, saying that once the Strait of Hormuz is reopened, the United States will work to remove naval mines that were laid in its waters. "Maybe G7 countries will also take part in this. We think we have a deal with Iran. It is a strong deal," the official said.

According to the official, Trump is expected to discuss mine-removal plans with allies during the G7 summit. Britain and France have previously expressed interest in helping clear the mines once the fighting stops. The summit in France will last several days. The G7 is the major industrialized democracies group, made up of the United States, Canada, Japan, Germany, France, Italy and Britain. It was formed after the 1970s energy crisis, and Russia was once a member when it was the G8, but was suspended after the 2014 annexation of Crimea.