G7 eyes targeted sanctions on Iran as ministers meet in Italy for 3 days
CAPRI, Italy — Group of Seven foreign ministers faced an agenda Wednesday topped by calls for new sanctions against Iran over its attack against Israel.
Under Italy’s stewardship of the rotating presidency, the G7 leaders are expected to issue a united call for Israel to exercise restraint after Iran’s weekend attack involving hundreds of drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Italy supported targeted new sanctions against Tehran, specifically against the makers of drones used in the weekend attack and others launched by Tehran-backed militias in Lebanon, Gaza and Yemen.
“So, for example, people sending drones to Houthi? Sanctions,” Mr. Tajani said, adding that he expected the G7 ministers to discuss possible new sanctions this week in Capri.
Tehran’s attack added a new element of urgency to the three-day meeting of foreign ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also called for new sanctions against Tehran and was making a lastminute visit to Israel before arriving on Capri later Wednesday.
“We will discuss how a further escalation with more and more violence can be prevented,” she said. “Because what matters now is to put a stop to Iran without encouraging further escalation.”
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said he expected new U.S. sanctions would target Iran’s missile and drone program and entities supporting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iran’s Defense Ministry.
“We anticipate that our allies and partners will soon be following with their own sanctions,” Mr. Sullivan said in Washington.
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said he would push for “coordinated sanctions against Iran.” He argued that Tehran was orchestrating “so much of the malign activity in this region” from Hamas in Gaza, to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon to the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
“They need to be given a clear and unequivocal message by the G7 and I hope that will happen,” Mr. Cameron told broadcasters during a visit to Israel.