FALCON POWERS – G7 leaders condemned the Iranian attack on Israel and stated on Sunday that they would work to prevent an “uncontrollable regional escalation” in the Middle East. Italy, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the group, called for a meeting of its leaders after U.S. President Joe Biden pledged to coordinate a diplomatic response to Iran’s unprecedented attack with drones and missiles on Israel the previous night. Italy stated in a statement, “Iran has taken steps with these actions towards destabilizing the region and risks provoking an uncontrollable regional escalation. That must be avoided.”
G7 leaders, who participated in a video conference lasting just under an hour, called on Iran to exercise restraint. The statement read, “In this spirit, we call on Iran and its proxies to halt their attacks, and we stand ready to take further action as necessary in response to continued destabilizing actions.” President Biden also informed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the United States would not participate in any counterattack on Iran if Israel decided to respond.
Iran carried out the attack in response to a suspected Israeli airstrike on the Iranian embassy compound in Damascus on April 1st, which resulted in the killing of senior commanders of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. This attack followed months of clashes between Israel and Iranian allies in the region due to the conflict in Gaza.
In the statement, G7 leaders pledged to work “towards an immediate and sustainable ceasefire” in Gaza after more than six months of fighting.
The G7 group includes the United States, Canada, Italy, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Japan, along with the European Union. Foreign ministers of the group are scheduled to meet from April 17th to 19th on the Italian island of Capri.
