G8 Statement on Iran, Mideast

The U.S. State Department:

UK Chairman's Statement

G8 Foreign Ministers met in London on 23 June to discuss a range of global and regional issues. The meeting focussed on the situation in Afghanistan on which we have issued a separate statement the Middle East and Iran. We also exchanged views on UN Reform, international trade in arms, and developments in the Western Balkans, Sudan, North Korea, Iraq, Lebanon, Zimbabwe and Haiti.

The Middle EastWe discussed the situation in the Middle East and welcomed the work of James Wolfensohn, the Quartet's Special Envoy on Gaza Disengagement and US Security Coordinator General Ward.

Mr Wolfensohn briefed us on his work so far and on how we might maximise the opportunity presented by Israel's planned disengagement from Gaza and part of the West Bank. In particular, he outlined specific proposals to support Palestinian reform and institution building and to ensure effective channelling of donor assistance.

We urge Israel and the Palestinian Authority to co-ordinate with him and with each other on their planning for the withdrawals. We are all clear that Gaza disengagement must be a success.We underlined our commitment to working with the parties and the international community, through the Roadmap, towards the goal of two viable states living side by side in peace and security.

We call on the Palestinian Authority to press ahead with the reform agenda, in particular to deliver on their security commitments under the Roadmap.

We urge Israel to meet its Roadmap commitments, particularly on settlements.

We affirmed G8 support for a negotiated solution to the Middle East conflict in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions.

Iran

Foreign Ministers underlined the G8's full support for the work of France, Germany and the UK, together with the EU High Representative, to negotiate long term arrangements for Iran's nuclear programme that provide objective guarantees that Iran's programme is for exclusively peaceful purposes. We agreed that for the process to continue, and to build confidence, it is essential that Iran adheres to the Paris Agreement and keeps all fuel cycle activities fully suspended.

Concerns were expressed about Iran's ballistic missile programme, and its attitude towards terrorism and the Middle East Peace Process.We reaffirmed our commitment to the work being undertaken to improve respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Iran.

In that regard, concerns were expressed by some G8 members about the preparations for and conduct of the Presidential elections in Iran. READ MORE