A top Iranian official paid an unannounced visit Sunday to the G-7 summit and headed straight to the buildings where leaders of the world’s major democracies have been debating how to handle the country’s nuclear ambitions.
France’s surprise invitation of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was a high-stakes gamble for French President Emmanuel Macron, who is the host of the Group of Seven gathering in Biarritz.
EMMANUEL MACRON has been assigned as the world’s official ‘mediator’ with Iran by his fellow G7 leaders following weeks of talks between Paris and Tehran.
The French President has been pushing for a revival of the landmark 2015 Iran nuclear deal that was broken by US President Donald Trump last year. Macron has often been the de facto intermediary between Western powers and Tehran, with Iranian officials confirming numerous contacts between the two administrations. G7 leaders – who are in their second day of meetings in Biarritz – have now reportedly appointed Macron as the group’s spokesman, sparking hope of progress between the two sides.
A French presidential source said: “As president of the G7, the president did indeed get the power to discuss and send a message to Iranian authorities on the basis of the exchanges we had last night.”
The source confirmed that Macron has maintained his priority of not allowing Iran any nuclear weapons.
The French President met Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif on Friday with hopes of easing the crisis at the G7 weekend summit.
Proposals were reportedly discussed in his showdown with Trump, with French officials suggesting that Iran be allowed to sell oil in exchange for returning to the negotiating table.
