Photo credit: Getty images
US President Donald Trump has backed a joint G7 leaders’ statement supporting the recent agreement reached between the United States and Iran, while calling for further negotiations to address Tehran’s ballistic missile programme and regional activities.
I'm the boss," Trump said as he strode in to the morning session of the last day of the three-day G7 summit, with the other leaders already in their seats.
In a statement, issued at the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, the group welcomed the memorandum of understanding expected to be signed by Washington and Tehran in Switzerland on Friday, describing it as an opportunity to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
According to the G7 leaders, “The agreement provides an historic opportunity to prevent Iran from acquiring any nuclear weapon and tackling the threats related to its regional and ballistic activities. We support and are ready to contribute to its implementation.”
The memorandum reportedly reaffirms Iran’s opposition to possessing nuclear weapons, provides for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and includes the lifting of US sanctions on Iranian oil exports and related industries. It also proposes the creation of a $300 billion reconstruction fund, although the United States has indicated it does not intend to contribute financially. Despite supporting the deal, the G7 leaders said additional negotiations would be required.
The statement noted that the group “strongly support a robust and comprehensive diplomatic follow-on agreement to the memorandum of understanding secured by President Trump that can bring peace and security for all in the region.” The proposed follow-up talks would seek to address issues not covered in the memorandum, including Iran’s ballistic missile programme and its support for regional proxy groups.
