VAUX-DE-CERNAY, France (AP) 鈥� Top diplomats from the Group of Seven countries showed divisions with the United States over the Iran war but agreed Friday during a meeting in France to call for an immediate halt to attacks against civilians and urge the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio joined his G7 counterparts a day after President Donald Trump lobbed his latest round of insults at other NATO countries, making it even more difficult for America’s top diplomat to try to sell to close allies. Trump has repeatedly complained that allies have ignored or rejected requests for help confronting Tehran鈥檚 retaliation, including its chokehold on the waterway that has and pushed up energy prices.
Rubio struck a softer tone, saying the U.S. would seek international cooperation on a plan to keep the strait open after hostilities end. Trump, as part of an , warned as recently as last week that the U.S. would 鈥渙bliterate鈥� Iran’s power plants if the waterway were not reopened within 48 hours, though he has extended that deadline until April 6.
Rubio emerged from discussions with fellow diplomats with a longer-term message about the conclusion of the war, when he said the U.S. and allies will face a challenge in keeping the strait open. He cautioned that Iran may seek to set up a toll on the waterway 鈥� where 20% of the world鈥檚 oil typically passes 鈥� an act that he said could cause significant economic damage to many nations around the globe.
鈥淣ot only is this illegal, it鈥檚 unacceptable. It鈥檚 dangerous to the world,鈥� Rubio told reporters of the possibility that Iran would seek to restrict traffic through the strait. 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 important that the world have a plan.鈥�
France says the Iran war 鈥榠s not ours鈥� as allies call for diplomacy
Most of America鈥檚 closest allies have , which was on display as the G7 foreign ministers gathered at a historic 12th century abbey in Vaux-de-Cernay, outside Paris, even as they urged a diplomatic solution. Four weeks into the war that the U.S. and Israel launched, the allies face concerns about instability in the oil markets and uncertainty over potential negotiations to end the crisis.
Several EU countries, now grappling with economic consequences of the war, have said they were not consulted by the U.S. before it launched its military actions in Iran. French Minister of the Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin said Friday that the war 鈥渋s not ours,鈥� adding that France’s position is strictly defensive.
鈥淭he aim is truly this diplomatic approach, which is the only one that can guarantee a return to peace,鈥� she said on Europe 1 and C草莓传媒.
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said Britain also favored a diplomatic path, acknowledging differences with the United States.
鈥淲e have taken the approach of supporting defensive action, but also we鈥檝e taken a different approach on the offensive action that has taken place as part of this conflict,鈥� she said.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said he made 鈥渙ur position clear, namely that there is certainly a readiness on Germany鈥檚 part to play a role after the end of hostilities when it comes to ensuring the security of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.鈥�
He said his interest is 鈥渢o broaden what we have as a common basis鈥� regarding the conflict in the Middle East.
Rubio seemed to play down the potential for a widening conflict, saying the U.S. was capable of achieving its objectives without ground troops.
G7 diplomats agree to call for halt to attacks on civilians
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said after the meeting that the group adopted a declaration calling for the 鈥渋mmediate cessation鈥� of attacks against civilian populations and infrastructure during the Iran war.
鈥淣othing justifies deliberately targeting civilians during armed conflicts, nor carrying out attacks against diplomatic facilities,鈥� Barrot told reporters, saying the declaration “also reaffirms the absolute necessity of permanently restoring free and safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.鈥�
Echoing Wadephul’s comments, Barrot said that once U.S. military objectives have been achieved, escort missions could 鈥減rovide the necessary security so that ship traffic can resume as quickly as possible.鈥�
鈥淵ou can clearly see that with each passing day, the situation is worsening due to the lack of ship traffic from the Persian Gulf to the rest of the world,鈥� he said.
Barrot added that Rubio, like others in the discussions, 鈥渨ants that once the United States鈥� military objectives have been achieved, maritime security and freedom of navigation can be ensured in the Strait of Hormuz, as in all international waters around the world.鈥�
Trump’s criticism of NATO allies makes Iran war a harder sell for Rubio
Trump has complained that other against Iran.
鈥淲e are very disappointed with NATO because NATO has done absolutely nothing,鈥� Trump said during a Cabinet meeting Thursday.
Of the G7 nations 鈥� besides the U.S. 鈥� Britain, Canada, France, Germany and Italy are members of the trans-Atlantic military alliance. Japan is the only one that is not.
鈥淲e鈥檙e there to protect NATO, to protect them from Russia. But they鈥檙e not there to protect us,鈥� Trump added.
Rubio, however, said the U.S. is 鈥渘ot asking for anybody to join the war鈥� against Iran but that the countries most affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz 鈥渟hould be willing to do something about it, and we鈥檒l help them鈥� after the conflict ends.
Europeans concerned about Iran war’s impact on Ukraine
Russia’s war in Ukraine also was a major topic at the G7 meeting, with U.S.-brokered talks persisting but making no breakthroughs and allies concerned that the new conflict in the Middle East will divert U.S. attention from a commitment to Ukraine.
Wadephul, the German foreign minister, said he made clear at the meeting that 鈥渢here must be no cuts when it comes to maintaining Ukraine鈥檚 defense capability.鈥�
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, that while no U.S. weapons have been pulled from to go to the Middle East instead, it could happen if deemed necessary.
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Petrequin reported from Paris. Associated Press writers Lorne Cook in Brussels, John Leicester in Paris and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report.
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