The G7 on Friday condemned the «brutal and disproportionate use of force» by Iran’s security forces against demonstrations since September over the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a woman arrested in the capital, Tehran, for allegedly wearing the veil incorrectly.
The group has shown its support for «the fundamental aspiration of the Iranian people for a future in which security and universal human rights are respected and protected» and called on the authorities to «honor their international obligations under international law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights».
«We advocate for the right of all Iranians to access information and deplore the erosion of civil space, independent journalism and attacks on Human Rights defenders by the Government of Iran, including the closure of the Internet and social networks,» said the G7, which also called on Tehran to «treat women as equals» and respect their rights.
It also called on the authorities to release «unjustly detained prisoners,» including children, journalists and activists, as well as to «hold accountable those responsible for human rights abuses and violations.» «We will continue to use all available diplomatic measures to hold the Iranian authorities accountable,» he stressed.
In this line, the G7 called on Iran to allow access to the country of UN Human Rights representatives and criticized «the practice of unjust detention of foreign citizens or dual nationals» with the aim of «obtaining political benefits».
The bloc – made up of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and the United States, with representation from the European Union – also condemned Iran’s «continued destabilizing activities in the Middle East», including those involving «ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones». Among these actions, it has included «the transfer of these advanced weapons to state and non-state actors,» it has noted.
«This proliferation is destabilizing to the region and increases already high tensions. We call on Iran to end its support for violent state and non-state actors and allied groups, as well as to fully comply with all relevant UN Security Council resolutions, including 2231,» he has outlined, referring to the one that endorsed the 2015 nuclear deal.
The G7 has further shown its support for UN «efforts» «to hold Russia and Iran accountable for their flagrant violations of resolution 2231» and stressed its «clear determination that Iran will never develop nuclear weapons.»
«The G7 continues to work together and with other international partners to address Iran’s nuclear escalation and its insufficient engagement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the safeguards agreement under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT),» he stressed.
Finally, he stressed that «the continued expansion of Iran’s nuclear program has no credible civilian justification» and called on Tehran to «change course» and «comply with its legal obligations and political commitments in the field of nuclear non-proliferation.» «We note that, despite many months of intense negotiations on a return to the nuclear deal, Iran has not taken the necessary decisions to do so,» he concluded.
