G7 urges Iran and Israel to avoid escalation

The Group of Seven foreign ministers warned Friday against an escalation of the Middle East conflict following reports of a possible Israeli attack on Iranian territory. 

At the end of a meeting of G7 foreign ministers on the Italian island of Capri, Italian Foreign minister Antonio Tajani urged both parties “to prevent further escalation.”

"We call on all parties to make a positive contribution," Tajani said, explaining that the meeting's agenda had been changed to discuss the explosions in Iran. 

Early Friday morning, Iran's air defense systems were activated in several locations after three explosions were heard near an international airport and a major military air base in the Iranian province of Isfahan. 

"We call on all parties to work to avoid escalation"

Soon after, US officials said Israel was behind the military strike in retaliation for Iran's attack on Saturday. Iran minimized the incident, saying that some drones had been successfully shot down by the country's air defenses and that there were no reports of a missile attack. 

"We condemned the recent attack by Iran and the G7 supports the security of Israel, but we call on all parties to work to avoid escalation and the G7 will work for this result," Tajani said, adding that the United States was informed of the drone attack on Iran at the last minute.

The G7 called on Iran to end its support for Hamas and to refrain from actions that destabilize the Middle East

In a joint statement, the G7 called on Iran to end its support for Hamas and to refrain from actions that destabilize the Middle East, "including support for Lebanese Hezbollah and other non-state actors". 

The G7 countries also called on "all countries" to prevent the supply of components or other items to Iran's drone and missile programs.

^{US secretary of state Antony Blinken, Italian Foreign minister Antonio Tajani and British Foreign minister David Cameron during the G7 foreign ministers' meeting on the island of Capri on 18 April 2024 © PHOTO REMO CASILLI / POOL / AFP}