The upcoming Group of Eight foreign ministers meeting will take a strong stance against Iran for its alleged crackdown on election protests, the Italian foreign minister said June 25.
Foreign Minister Franco Frattini spoke ahead of the G8 conference in Trieste on the stabilization of Afghanistan and Pakistan, the ANSA news agency reported.
"We will adopt a particularly tough and clear position," said Frattini, who also expressed confidence that Russia, which has growing political and economic ties to Tehran, "will not fail to show its support."
"The value of life supersedes any possible bilateral accords with Iran and I believe the Russian Federation will have no trouble in backing a joint position," Frattini said.
The foreign minister also called on the international community to be firm in its condemnation of Iran.
"Iran is at a crossroads. It must choose whether or not to keep the door open to dialogue with the international community," the minister said.
Frattini said the ministers "cannot shift from this (position)" of demanding a recount in Iran.
