Iran Drops In on G7

If there weren't enough excitement at the G7 summit already, Iran just decided to send a little more to the exclusive party where it is the subject of much gnashing of teeth: The Republic's top diplomat, Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has arrived in Biarritz, France, which is hosting the G7. Eyebrows were raised when an Airbus registered to the Iranian government landed there, and the Foreign Ministry confirmed his arrival shortly after. The AP notes that this is a surprise trip for Zarif, who had been scheduled to head only to Asia in coming days in his efforts to drum up support for Tehran as it squabbles with President Trump over the 2015 nuclear deal. An Iranian Foreign Ministry rep says "there will be no meetings or negotiations" with the US. Earlier in the day, France said President Emmanuel Macron had been authorized by the G7 to communicate with Iran; Trump disputed that. More here. (More Group of Seven stories.)