World leaders hope G7 summit an opportunity to unite amid Middle East tension
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says he hopes an upcoming meeting of G7 countries in Canada will show unity and could reach agreement on four key points to help resolve the conflict between Israel and Iran.
Speaking as he prepared to fly to Canada for the G7 summit, Merz said the Middle East conflict would be high on the agenda.
The four points were:
that Iran cannot develop or posses nuclear weapons
that Israel has the right to defend itself against existential threats, which he said Iran's nuclear program represented
that the conflict should not escalate
that scope for diplomacy must be created
'I would like to add that in Germany we are also getting ready in case Iran should target Israeli or Jewish targets in Germany,' Merz told reporters, without going into more detail.
G7 leaders gather for a summit in the Canadian Rockies starting on Sunday until Tuesday.
As summit host, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has decided to abandon the annual practice of issuing a joint statement, or communique, at the end of the meeting.
Leaders who are not part of the G7 but have been invited to the summit by Carney include the heads of state of India, Australia, Ukraine, Brazil, South Africa, South Korea, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates.
Merz said that Israel had requested fire extinguishing material, which Germany would provide.
Germany's defence minister, Boris Pistorius, told German state television ARD he had not discussed providing military aid to Israel with his Israeli counterpart, nor had he received any such requests.
Nothing was being prepared, he added.
Separately, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said he had spoken with his Omani counterpart Badr Albusaidi on how Oman's ties could help de-escalate tension in the region between Israel and Iran and Yemen's Houthi rebels.
Merz said the G7 would also discuss the war in Ukraine and that more pressure should be put on Russia to bring it to the negotiating table.
To that end, European leaders wanted to agree new sanctions on Russia at the end of this month, he said.
Merz said economic issues would also be on the agenda at the G7 summit, and said efforts would be directed towards reaching an agreement over tariffs following a decision by US President Donald Trump's administration to impose them on its key trade partners earlier this year.
'Urgent' need for solution
Several other world leaders called for diplomatic talks to de-escalate tensions between Israel and Iran on Sunday.
Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, reiterated Europe's 'commitment to peace, stability, and diplomatic efforts leading to de-escalation' after speaking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Von der Leyen also expressed concern of Iran's developing nuclear program.
'Europe has always been clear: Iran can never acquire a nuclear weapon,' she said. 'There is an urgent need for a negotiated solution.'
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed US President Donald Trump's call for Israel and Iran to make a deal, Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency reported.
He also addressed the 'irreversible economic, civilian damage' for both sides and stressed a need for de-escalation, according to Anadolu.
Death toll rises
Iran's Ministry of Health on Sunday said at least 224 people had been killed in Iran since Israel launched a wave of attacks across the country on Friday, according to the semi-official Iranian media outlet Mehr News, citing health ministry spokesman Hossein Kermanpour.
Kermanpour said 1277 people had been injured and treated in university hospitals in the country. The vast majority of those killed and injured, 'more than 90 percent', were civilians, he said.
At least 14 people in Israel have died in the hostilities.
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