Foreign ​Minister Alfano has telephone call with Iranian colleague Zarif before opening G7 meeting

Today in the early afternoon, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Angelino Alfano, had a telephone call with his Iranian colleague, Mohammad Javad Zarif, before the G7 ministerial meeting, which opened today at 4:30 p.m.
The telephone call was requested by the Iranian minister and focused, above all, on the situation in Syria.
Following the horrendous attack that occurred in Syria on 4 April, the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs reiterated Tehran’s condemnation of the unacceptable use of chemical weapons, and also urged an independent investigation of the episode be carried out under the aegis of the United Nations.Minister Alfano expressed his hope that Iran may exercise all of its influence on the Syrian regime to avoid further attacks on civilians, thus totally eliminating chemical weapons and ensuring the ceasefire.At the end of the conversation, both ministers agreed to remain in contact to follow the situation in Syria, with the common aim of preventing the escalation of violence and relaunching the political stabilisation process in the country. This is in light of the outcome of the extraordinary meeting on Syria, collateral to the G7 and convened by Minister Alfano for tomorrow morning, with the participation of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.