THE Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers on Monday called for the immediate resumption of diplomatic negotiations to secure a comprehensive and verifiable agreement on Iran’s nuclear program, following a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran.
In a joint statement, the G7 expressed support for the US-brokered truce announced last week to end hostilities that began on June 13 after Israel launched strikes on Iranian territory.
The flare-up, which included retaliatory attacks by Iran on a US base in Qatar, had heightened fears of a broader conflict in the already volatile Middle East, particularly following the ongoing war in Gaza that began in October 2023.
“We call for the resumption of negotiations, resulting in a comprehensive, verifiable, and durable agreement that addresses Iran’s nuclear program,” the G7 ministers said, underlining concerns over regional stability.
Since April, Washington and Tehran have engaged in quiet, back-channel discussions aimed at reviving the nuclear agreement.
Iran maintains that its nuclear program is strictly for peaceful purposes, while Israel and its allies insist on preventing Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff described the ongoing dialogue as “promising,” adding that the US remains hopeful for a long-term peace framework.
The G7 ministers also condemned recent threats made against Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), after an Iranian hardline newspaper accused him of acting as an Israeli agent and called for his execution. The G7 labeled such threats as unacceptable and dangerous.
Just days before the ceasefire, the IAEA’s 35-nation Board of Governors formally declared Iran in violation of its nuclear non-proliferation obligations — the first such resolution in nearly two decades.
Iran is a signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), unlike Israel, which is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons.
Despite mounting suspicions, the IAEA has stated there is “no credible indication” that Iran currently has an active, coordinated nuclear weapons program.
The G7 urged all parties “to avoid actions that could further destabilize the region,” emphasizing that diplomacy remains the only sustainable path to ensure non-proliferation and peace.