New Delhi, June 17 -- US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (June 17) defended his administration's interim agreement with Iran, arguing that ending the conflict was necessary to prevent a global economic shock triggered by a prolonged war in the Middle East.

Speaking at the close of the G7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, Trump said the risk of escalating economic damage weighed heavily on his decision to pursue a deal.

"So the one thing I didn't want to see is, I didn't want to see economic catastrophe. If you kept this going, that could have happened."

The comments came as global markets continue to assess the impact of months of conflict that drove up energy prices, heightened inflation concerns and disrupted key shipping routes...