Foreign ministers from the Group of 7 (G7) leading industrialized democracies met in France on Thursday, seeking to develop a joint line with the United States on how to end the war in Iran.
«However difficult it may be, given the situation, we will and we must engage in intensive discussions over the coming days to work out joint solutions,» said German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.
The meeting in a former abbey in Cernay-la-Ville, on the outskirts of Paris, is the first of G7 foreign ministers since the US and Israel launched the war against Iran on February 28.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to arrive on Friday.
After an initial exchange of views on the Middle East conflict with his British and French counterparts, Yvette Cooper and Jean-Noël Barrot, Wadephul said further destabilization must be prevented, economic freedom safeguarded and develop prospects both for ending the fighting and for the period that follows.
Wadephul said it was «good, important and right» that Rubio was attending the summit, adding that he was confident «that we can define a common position.»
«Of course, the aim is to end this conflict as quickly as possible, but also to bring it to a lasting conclusion,» the German minister said.
Reconstruction efforts are also expected to be on the agenda at the two-day meeting, including the damaged containment structure at the Chernobyl nuclear plant and measures to combat drug trafficking in Syria.
The G7 – comprised of France, Italy, Japan, Canada, Germany, the U.S. and the UK – is holding its first formal foreign minister meeting under France’s 2026 presidency.
France hopes the talks will yield concrete outcomes on major international crises. Representatives from Brazil, South Korea, India and Saudi Arabia have also been invited for individual discussions.
