WANA (Aug 21) – The G7 Non-Proliferation Directors, in a detailed statement reaffirming their commitment to nuclear disarmament and countering the spread of weapons of mass destruction, once again asserted that Iran must never obtain nuclear weapons and urged Tehran to resume nuclear negotiations.

 

Without reference to what Tehran describes as U.S. and Israeli hostilities against Iran during indirect talks between Washington and Tehran, the statement read:

 

“We remain committed to a safer and more stable world. Iran must remain a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and fully implement its obligations under the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement. Tehran must immediately resume full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and provide verifiable information on all nuclear material. Such actions would help restore confidence in the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program.”

 

The G7 further reiterated concerns over Iran’s missile program and what it called Tehran’s support for regional groups, including Hamas, Hezbollah, Ansarullah, and resistance groups in Iraq.

 

This comes despite Iran’s continued engagement in diplomatic talks during the recent 12-day conflict marked by heavy Israeli attacks on Gaza with open U.S. support.

 

Beyond Iran, the G7 statement addressed broader issues, reaffirming support for the NPT as the “cornerstone of the non-proliferation regime,” reiterating opposition to North Korea’s nuclear tests, and calling for the “complete, verifiable, and irreversible” denuclearization of Pyongyang. It further alleged that Russia and China play a significant role in facilitating North Korea’s weapons programs.

 

The G7 also condemned the ongoing war in Ukraine, pledging “unconditional” support for Kyiv and alleging that Iran and North Korea have provided military assistance to Russia — a claim repeatedly rejected by Iranian officials, who stress that Tehran has had no role in the war and maintains a principled opposition to armed conflict while supporting political solutions.

 

Marking the tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, the statement highlighted “80 years of non-use of nuclear weapons” and reiterated the G7’s vision of a world free of such arms. At the same time, the group expressed concern over China’s expanding nuclear arsenal and urged Russia to return to compliance with the New START treaty.

 

The communiqué also covered other areas, including preventing an arms race in outer space, ensuring full implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological Weapons Convention, and strengthening controls over emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, drones, and biotechnology.

 

The Islamic Republic of Iran has repeatedly stated that it has no plans to pursue nuclear weapons, citing a religious decree by the Supreme Leader prohibiting their production and use.

The 2015 Nuclear Deal Negotiations. Social media/ WANA News Agency