At the heart of the current crisis lies Israel’s fear that Iran is nearing the development of a nuclear weapon — a red line it has long vowed to prevent. Israel’s latest airstrikes reportedly targeted uranium enrichment facilities and military sites suspected of aiding Iran’s nuclear programme.

The United States is the main international backer of Israel, Iran's biggest regional foe. It is also a close ally of Sunni Gulf monarchies which for years pursued their own rivalry with the Islamic Republic, seeing it as their main regional threat.

Trump told the Wall Street Journal that he knew all about Israel’s plan ahead of time, that he wasn’t given a mere “heads-up.”

The country’s exports mostly come from Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf. But Israel’s energy facilities are also at risk.

Iran activated its air defences in several regions on Saturday and Israel told its citizens to take shelter ahead of a fresh barrage of missiles, as the arch-foes exchanged massive strikes in their fiercest direct confrontation in history.

The United States has pulled some diplomatic staff and military families out of the Middle East, citing unspecified regional security risks.

G7 will also be a platform for Canadian PM Carney to showcase his leadership at a time of economic, geopolitical shifts.

Donald Trump called on Iran to finalize a nuclear deal after Israeli strikes killed multiple military and nuclear officials.