Fact Check: On June 16, 2025, President Trump stated that Iran had expressed a desire to de-escalate the conflict and would like to talk.

Fact Check: "On June 16, 2025, President Trump stated that Iran had expressed a desire to de-escalate the conflict and would like to talk."

What We Know

On June 16, 2025, during the Group of Seven (G7) summit, President Donald Trump indicated that Iran had shown a willingness to engage in discussions aimed at de-escalating the ongoing conflict with Israel. He stated, “They’d like to talk,” referring to Iranian leadership, and emphasized that Iran should have initiated talks earlier, suggesting that they were not winning the conflict and needed to negotiate immediately (source-2, source-5, source-8).

Despite these statements, Trump did not sign a G7 statement that called for de-escalation between Iran and Israel, which indicates a lack of formal diplomatic engagement from the U.S. side at that moment (source-1, source-6).

Analysis

The claim that President Trump stated Iran expressed a desire to de-escalate the conflict is supported by his own comments during the summit. He explicitly mentioned that Iran wanted to talk, which aligns with the assertion made in the claim. However, the context is crucial: while Trump indicated that Iran was open to discussions, he simultaneously did not endorse a collaborative diplomatic effort by refusing to sign the G7 statement advocating for de-escalation (source-2, source-6).

The sources used in this analysis are credible, including major news outlets like The New York Times, NPR, and ABC News, which have established reputations for journalistic integrity. However, the interpretation of Trump's statements can vary based on the political leanings of the outlets. For instance, while some may emphasize his openness to dialogue, others might focus on his refusal to engage in formal diplomatic measures, which could suggest a more confrontational stance.

Conclusion

The claim is Partially True. While President Trump did state that Iran expressed a desire to de-escalate and would like to talk, his refusal to sign the G7 statement calling for de-escalation indicates a lack of commitment to diplomatic engagement at that time. Thus, the assertion captures part of the truth but does not fully encompass the broader context of the situation.

Sources

1. US official says Trump not signing G7 statement on Israel-Iran de-escalation
2. Trump Will Not Sign G7 Statement on Iran and Israel, Official Says
3. Trump urges Tehran evacuation as Iran-Israel conflict enters fifth day
4. Israel-Iran conflict live updates: Trump says 'everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran'
5. Trump is leaving the G7 early to focus on the Middle East
6. Trump does not intend to sign joint G7 statement on Iran
7. Trump says Iran would 'like to talk' and is 'not winning' conflict with Israel