Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Iran's Envoy Makes Surprise Visit at Site of G-7 Summit

VOA News

   Last updated at 2:40p.m.

   Iran's top diplomat, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, showed up
   Sunday at the French city hosting the G7 summit of top world leaders,
   but did not meet with U.S. officials during the brief visit.

   Zarif's appearance in Biarritz, where U.S. President Donald Trump has
   been meeting with leaders of six other countries, came as a surprise.
   When asked about the development, Trump had no comment.

   But Zarif's visit was at the behest of French President Emmanuel
   Macron, who has had talks with his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani,
   about tensions in the Persian Gulf region that stem from Trump's
   withdrawal last year from the 2015 international accord aimed at
   restraining Tehran's nuclear weapons program.

   Macron had met with Zarif on Friday in Paris before the summit opened,
   but invited him back to the Atlantic coastal town where the summit is
   being held after tense exchanges among the world leaders about Iran at
   their Saturday night dinner.

.