No change in stance on Iran N-deal: UK
BIARRITZ, FRANCE: Britain will not change its backing of the 2015 deal on Iran’s nuclear programme under new Prime Minister Boris Johnson, a British diplomatic source said on Friday, a day ahead of a G7 summit where the Iranian atomic drive is set to be a major sticking point.
“We are strong supporters” of the nuclear deal, said the official, asking not to be named. “I don’t think you will find any change in the British government position.”
Johnson will be at the G7 in Biarritz to hold talks with US President Donald Trump, who pulled out of the landmark accord last year. Trump and Johnson have a strong personal rapport and the British premier, who took office last month, has emphasised the importance of close relations with the US as Britain prepares to leave the European Union.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who will from Saturday chair the three-day G7 summit, was on Friday due to meet Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Paris.
CANADA OPPOSES READMITTING RUSSIA
OTTAWA: Canada is opposed to Russia rejoining the G8 unless it leaves Ukraine, foreign minister Chrystia Freeland said.
“All of us would be delighted to welcome a Russia that sought again to be a member in good standing of our like-minded group of countries,” Freeland said. But first, she added, Russia must “show that they want to do that (by) leaving Crimea and ending the war in the Donbass” in Ukraine. Russia was left out of the old G8 format after the 2014 annexation of Crimea.