Merkel says they need to explore all ways of reducing Iran tensions
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said talks between the Iranian and French foreign ministers on Sunday were a side event to the G7 summit and every opportunity should be seized to resolve tensions between the United States and Iran. "We have to find a way to de-escalate - if not we have to fear that Iran reneges even further on its (nuclear deal) commitments even further in September," Merkel told reporters.
- World
- AP
- Published Date: 09:42 | 25 August 2019
- Modified Date: 09:43 | 25 August 2019
German Chancellor Angela Merkel says it's worth taking every opportunity to avoid a further escalation of the standoff over Iran's nuclear program, and that G-7 leaders had a "good, constructive discussion" on the subject Saturday evening.
Iran's foreign minister made a previously unannounced visit Sunday to Biarritz, France, where the G-7 summit was taking place. He came at France's invitation after a Saturday night discussion that Merkel said made clear all leaders agree that Iran must not get a nuclear weapon and that must be achieved by negotiations.
Merkel said Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif's presence is "a parallel event in the same place, but not a G-7 movement, and now we must see whether the immediate communication of how the talks went yesterday produces further possibilities to speak and perhaps negotiate with Iran."