The world’s seven leading democracies have issued a forceful joint statement backing countries across the Middle East that have come under attack from Iran, calling for an immediate halt to all Iranian military action and reaffirming their commitment to keeping vital energy supply routes open.
The declaration, signed by the foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, along with the European Union’s High Representative, represents one of the most explicit displays of collective Western solidarity since hostilities in the region escalated.
The statement condemned what it described as “reckless” Iranian attacks on civilian populations and infrastructure — including energy facilities — across a wide swathe of the Middle East. Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Iraq were all named as targets of what the G7 called unjustifiable aggression by the Iranian regime and its proxies. The ministers stated that such attacks constituted a threat not merely to regional stability but to global security more broadly.
Of particular concern is the safety of maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and associated waterways, through which a significant proportion of the world’s energy supply passes. The G7 said it stood ready to take “necessary measures” to support global energy supply, pointing to a coordinated release of strategic petroleum reserves agreed by International Energy Agency members on 11 March as an early step in that effort.
On the question of Iran’s nuclear ambitions, the statement was unequivocal. The G7 reiterated its long-standing position that Iran must never be permitted to acquire a nuclear weapon, and called on Tehran to halt its ballistic missile programme, end what the ministers described as destabilising activities across the region and beyond, and cease the violent repression of its own citizens.
The statement also drew specific attention to attacks on diplomatic facilities and energy infrastructure in Iraq, including in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, as well as strikes against United States forces and Counter ISIS Coalition personnel operating in the country. The G7 condemned those attacks in explicit terms.
Affirming the right of all nations targeted by Iran or Iranian-backed forces to defend themselves, the ministers said their support for the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of those countries remained unwavering.
The joint statement was issued in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817.
