The Group of Seven foreign ministers gathered in Capri, Italy, where the United States informed them of last-minute information it received from Israel regarding a drone action in Iran. However, the U.S. officials clarified that they did not participate in the apparent attack. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who chaired the meeting, stated that the U.S. provided this information in a session that was changed at the last minute to address the suspected attack. Iran had fired air defenses from a major air base and a nuclear site near Isfahan in response to drones, believed to be part of an Israeli attack following Iran’s drone-and-missile assault on Israel the previous weekend.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken affirmed the commitment of the U.S. to assist Israel but did not comment directly on the assertion made by Italy. Blinken emphasized that the U.S. was not involved in any attack and was working towards de-escalation in the region. He stated that the U.S. has not been involved in offensive operations and highlighted the commitment to helping Israel defend itself. Blinken described the U.S.-Israeli relationship, emphasizing that Israel makes its own decisions, and the U.S. is dedicated to defending it, as seen in recent actions to repel the Iranian attack.
In a press conference, Tajani shared that the G7 partners had exchanged information about the events in Iran. They aimed to prevent further escalation and were relieved to hear that Italians living in Isfahan, where the drones arrived, were safe with no deaths or injuries reported. The situation seemed to have improved, with the Iranian airspace reopening. The G7 foreign ministers, in a joint communique, condemned Iran’s attack on Israel and expressed support for Israel’s security. They also warned Iran against transferring ballistic missiles and technology to Russia and called for the release of hostages in Gaza and increased aid flow into the region.
The G7 countries stood against a full-scale military operation in Rafah in Gaza, emphasizing the catastrophic consequences on the civilian population. They called for a de-escalation of tensions, a ceasefire, release of hostages, and aid to the Palestinian people. The ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States pledged to adopt further sanctions or other measures in response to any further destabilizing initiatives. The meeting concluded with a unified stance on supporting Israel’s security and working towards peaceful solutions in the region, including addressing the ongoing conflicts in Iran and Gaza.
