Iran FM in dramatic visit to G7 summit

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif flew into Biarritz in southern France for the G7 summit yesterday in an unexpected and dramatic attempt to break a diplomatic deadlock over Tehran’s disputed nuclear programme.

Zarif’s presence had not been announced and represented an attempt by French host Emmanuel Macron to find a way to soothe spiralling tensions between Iran and the United States.

He was not expected to hold face-to-face talks with US President Donald Trump but the presence of the two men in the same place sparked hopes of a detente.

The French presidency confirmed his arrival but emphasised no talks were planned with the American side.