LUBECK, Germany
The G7 called on Iran to reject terrorism and follow a “constructive” foreign policy on Wednesday.
In a joint statement, the U.S., Canada, Japan, Germany, France, Great Britain and Italy, expressed concerns over Iran’s policy in the Middle East.
“We call on Iran to play a responsible and constructive role in its regional environment,” the foreign ministers said following a two-day meeting in the northwestern German city of Lubeck.
“In particular, we urge the Iranian authorities to actively contribute to the efforts of the international community to achieve a political solution in Syria, to support the process of reconciliation in Iraq and to reject all acts of terrorism and terrorist groups.”
The statement also urged Iran to help resolve violence in Yemen, where it is accused of supporting the Houthi insurgency by Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab states; renewed support for President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi; and called for a resumption of UN-led negotiations.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told his counterparts he was optimistic a final deal could be reached with Iran over its nuclear research, following talks between the Obama administration and the U.S. Congress, which had voiced doubts about a framework agreed with Iran on April 2.
“Yesterday there is a compromise reached in Washington regarding congressional input,” Kerry said. “We are confident about our ability for the president to negotiate an agreement.”
The EU’s foreign affairs representative Federica Mogherini told a press conference she was confident that both the administration and Congress would recognize the agreement with Iran as “in the interest of the security of everybody in the region and worldwide.”
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said talks between diplomats on a finalized deal would resume next week, with foreign ministers probably meeting in June.
“Our goal is to achieve an Iran without nuclear weapons, no nuclear proliferation in the Middle East,” he said.
“Our joint hope is to reach a framework agreement after 12 years of negotiations to end nuclear conflict with Iran. That can perhaps be an incentive with regard to solving other conflicts in the area.”
The G7 ministers added: “We support the continuation of the efforts by the E3/EU+3 and Iran with a view to achieving a comprehensive solution by June 30.”
The E3/EU+3 is an alternative term for the P5+1 group - the U.S. Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany – that has conducted nuclear negotiations with Iran.
