The United States, which hopes to add European countries to its economic war against Iran, sparked rejection among its partners, inviting Russia’s finance minister to the G20 summit.
President Donald Trump’s administration is working to persuade its G20 partners to increase economic pressure on Iran during talks in Asheville, North Carolina, which will last until Tuesday amid a renewed exchange of fire with Tehran.
As president of the G20 this year, the United States is the host of this and other G20 meetings.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hopes to use the event to promote U.S. policies, in particular deregulation, and convince other countries to further isolate Tehran.
“We will continue to put pressure, and we’ve already had very good conversations here,” Bessent told the press before starting the meetings at the foot of the Apalaches, in the east of the country.
The first exchange of attacks between the United States and Iran in a month planned on the meetings of finance ministers in the mountainous complex of Omni Grove Park Inn.
The European Union, present at the meeting, seemed willing to strengthen its own sanctions, according to a previous statement. But on Monday frictions were presented for another war: the one started by Russia against Ukraine in 2022.
Usually considered a persona non grata, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov was among the G20 delegates.
Asked about the Russian minister’s invitation, Trump told reporters: “We like to get along well with everyone.
But his presence bothered the 27-year-old block, which managed to exclude him from the traditional family photo, which was taken discreetly on Monday, away from the press.
“Receiving the Russian finance minister here sends a signal that I find disturbing,” German finance minister Lars Klingbeil told reporters.
“President [Trump] and his administration are not afraid to talk to the people that matter,” Kush Desai, a White House spokesman sent to Asheville, said. He added that the White House has been working with Russia to “end the endless blood bath” in Ukraine.
A source familiar with bilateral talks between the United States and Russia said Bessent made it clear that Washington would not provide Russia with economic relief until the war in Ukraine had ended.
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