The leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) nations in a statement on Monday expressed support for Israel in its conflict with Iran, acknowledged the Islamic Republic as the destabilizing regional actor and made clear that Tehran cannot be allowed nuclear weapons.
“We affirm that Israel has a right to defend itself. We reiterate our support for the security of Israel,” the statement read.
Iran, “the principal source of regional instability and terrorism ... can never have a nuclear weapon,” it continued.
The G7 leaders expressed their wish that the resolution of the Iran crisis would lead to “a broader de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East,” including a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
The G7 countries were prepared to coordinate on safeguarding the stability of energy markets, the statement continued, which hitherto have not been as badly affected as predicted.
The war, now in its fifth day, seemingly caught all of the leaders, except U.S. President Donald Trump, off guard. On Tuesday, Israeli fighter jets continued to pummel large swaths of Iran, eliminating high-ranking military and intelligence leaders.
Meanwhile, during a call with his French, British and German counterparts on Monday, Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed that Israel’s military operation to end Iran’s nuclear program was detrimental to diplomatic efforts to curtail it, AFP reported on Monday.
“The Israeli aggression against Iran in the midst of nuclear negotiations with the United States is a blow to diplomacy,” said Araghchi.
