Germany’s Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, has called for a collective response from the G7 nations to Iran’s recent assault on Israel, stating that discussions are underway with her G7 counterparts in Italy.
“We are also discussing further measures here at the G7, because of course there must be a response to this unprecedented incident,” she remarked during a press conference on the island of Capri.
She also emphasized the need to prevent any further escalation in the region, which would have dire consequences for its inhabitants.
It is anticipated that the G7 countries — which include France, Germany, Italy, the UK, the United States, Canada, and Japan — will advocate for targeted sanctions against individuals involved in Iran’s missile production network, as per an Italian diplomatic source.
Following the weekend’s attack, which resulted in minimal damage due to the interception of most missiles, the European Union leaders consented on Wednesday to enforce new sanctions on Iranian drone and missile manufacturers.
“We will have to review the system” of sanctions “in order to enlarge it and make it more efficient,” stated EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell at a briefing on Thursday in Capri.
He mentioned that since July 2023, European companies have faced restrictions on exporting “the components that allow the production of these kind of arms” to Iran.
“So we will increase it,” he declared.
“The important thing is the implementation of our decision,” he added.
Borrell also urged Israel to exercise restraint, warning that the region is teetering on the brink of war.
The United States, a staunch ally of Israel, has announced impending sanctions targeting Iran’s missile and drone programs and anticipates allied nations to implement similar actions.
The drone and missile strikes by Iran, which were a retaliation for a lethal attack on Iran’s consulate in Damascus commonly attributed to Israel, have escalated tensions amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Baerbock, along with Britain’s Foreign Minister David Cameron, visited Israel on Wednesday to appeal for peace in light of concerns over potential Israeli retaliation.
Cameron called on the G7 to introduce new “coordinated sanctions” against Iran, accusing it of fueling much of the region’s harmful activities.
On Thursday morning, the G7 ministers convened to deliberate on the situation in the Middle East, followed by discussions on the Huthi assaults in the Red Sea that have been disrupting international maritime trade.
Subsequently, they will engage in dialogue with special invitees, including NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
