G7 ministers urge end to attacks against civilians in Mideast war

EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (C), Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (2nd L), Britain's Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper (L), US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (3rd L), France's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot (C-R), Canada's Foreign Minister Anita Anand, (3rd R) and Japan's Foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi (2nd R) attend talks on Peace and Security during a G7 Foreign Ministers' meeting with Partner Countries at the Vaux-de-Cernay Abbey in Cernay-la-Ville outside Paris, on March 27, 2026. Foreign ministers from the G7 will take part part in a two-day meeting with European nations and allies seeking to narrow differences with the US on the Middle East war while keeping other crises like Ukraine and Gaza high on the agenda. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / POOL / AFP) International News, Latest News March 27, 2026 G7 ministers urge end to attacks against civilians in Mideast war CERNAY-LA-VILLE, France (AFP)—G7 foreign ministers Friday urged a stop to attacks against civilians in the Middle East war and urged Iran to immediately restore freedom of navigation in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

A joint statement, released in the name of all G7 members, including the United States, called for “an immediate cessation of attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure”.

“There can be no justification for the deliberate targeting of civilians in situations of armed conflict as well as attacks on diplomatic facilities,” it said, after the foreign ministers of the world’s leading industrialised nations met in France. The joint statement had initially not been expected, which had been seen as a potential sign of transatlantic tensions over the US-Israeli war against the Islamic republic.

US President Donald Trump had threatened to strike Iranian energy facilities, but has since rowed back on that warning to give Tehran more time for talks he said were taking place. A major theme of the meeting outside Paris was Iran’s de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key energy and trading bottleneck whose throttling has led to a surge in global energy prices. “We reiterated the absolute necessity to permanently restore safe and toll-free freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” the statement added.

In their meeting, the ministers focused on efforts “to mitigate global economic shocks such as disruptions to economic, energy, fertiliser and commercial supply chains, which have direct impacts on our citizens”, they said.