EU, G7 urge Iran to resume nuclear talks

BRUSSELS, July 1 (KUNA) -- The European Union and Group of Seven countries (G7) issued a joint statement reiterating support for the Iran-Israeli occupation ceasefire and urging Iran to resume nuclear talks.
The statement was released Monday night following meeting of G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, Kaja Kallas, in The Hague on June 25.
The Foreign Ministers appreciated the role of Qatar in facilitating the ceasefire and expressed full solidarity to Qatar and Iraq following the recent strikes by Iran and "its proxies and partners" against their territory.
They also welcomed all efforts in the region towards stabilization and de-escalation.
"We reaffirm that the Islamic Republic of Iran can never have nuclear weapons, and urge Iran to refrain from reconstituting its unjustified enrichment activities," read the statement adding, "We call for the resumption of negotiations, resulting in a comprehensive, verifiable and durable agreement that addresses Iran's nuclear program,".
Moreover, the statement called on Iran to urgently resume full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), "as required by its safeguards obligations and to provide the IAEA with verifiable information about all nuclear material in Iran, including by providing access to IAEA inspectors," They also condemned what the statement described as "calls in Iran" for the arrest and execution of IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi.
They underscored the centrality of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime, and reiterated commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East. (end) arn.aai