Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) have called for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon while welcoming a developing agreement aimed at ending the war between the United States and Iran.
Meeting in the French town of Evian-les-Bains, the leaders said on Wednesday they would also work to diversify global energy supply routes in a bid to reduce dependence on the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for oil shipments affected by recent conflict.
In a joint statement, the G7 said they supported efforts to stabilise the region and prevent further escalation.
“We underline the need for the negotiation … to address the threats posed by Iran in the region and beyond and ensure that they never obtain a nuclear weapon,” the leaders said.
The summit comes as details emerge of a US-Iran agreement expected to pave the way for broader negotiations on ending the conflict, which has reportedly killed more than 7,000 people, mostly in Iran and Lebanon.
The leaders also signalled readiness to support implementation of the deal, with Britain and France expected to lead efforts to secure shipping once the Strait of Hormuz reopens.
Alongside security concerns, the G7 said it would accelerate efforts to strengthen energy resilience and reduce global vulnerability linked to the Strait of Hormuz, including increasing strategic energy stocks.
