G8 Nations Pressure Iran Ahead of Annual Meetings

Source: Cnn.com

The annual G8 meetings will take place July 15-17 in St. Petersburg, Russia. Prior to those meetings, member countries are hopeful that Iran will respond to a United Nations proposal dealing with Iran’s nuclear program. All 5 members of the UN Security Council are involved in the pressure.

A statement released by G8 foreign ministers expects a “clear and substantive Iranian response to these proposals” when an Iranian and an European Union representative meet on July 5th. The UN proposal offers economical and political incentives if Iran ceases its uranium enrichment program.

Iran maintains that its programs serve peaceful purposes, while others believe it is seeking a nuclear weapon. In response to a US offer to join the EU in negotiations, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, said “negotiating with America does not have any benefit for [Iran] and we do not need such negotiations.”