Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif has arrived in the French city of Biarritz after an invitation from Emmanuel Macron to meet the G7.
Mr Zarif's arrival on Sunday afternoon appeared to surprise the other delegations to the summit; the Italians found out from French news wire AFP, Bloomberg reported.
French organisers did not say in what capacity he will attend the meetings and they refused to confirm any details.
Mr Zarif was in Paris only last week, meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron about the future of the landmark 2015 nuclear deal.
He described the talks as “constructive and good”, the semi-official Iranian Students’ News Agency reported.
The G7 leaders seemed at odds on its approach to Iran on Sunday, with US President Donald Trump denying signing off on a joint message to the state over its nuclear programme as announced by his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.
"No I haven't discussed that," Mr Trump told reporters on the sidelines of the G7 summit in the southwestern French resort of Biarritz.
This contradicted Mr Macron who shortly beforehand had said the G7 countries "agreed on what to say to Iran".
Mr Trump said: "We'll do our own outreach. But you can't stop people from talking. If they want to talk, they can talk."
Iran's foreign ministry said Mr Zarif will not hold talks with Mr Trump while he is in France, but did not comment on the other delegations of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom.
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France's President Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump pose during a joint press conference in Biarritz, south-west France on August 26, 2019. AFP -
An Iranian government plane is seen on the tarmac at Biarritz airport in Anglet during the G7 summit, August 25, 2019. Reuters -
French President Emmanuel Macron receives Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif during a meeting in the city hall of Biarritz, southwestern France, on the sidelines of the G7 summit. AFP / Javad Zarif's official twitter account -
In this photo released by the official website of the office of the Iranian Presidency, President Hassan Rouhani speaks in a conference in Tehran, Iran, Monday, Aug. 26, 2019. Rouhani defended his foreign minister's surprise visit to the G-7 summit, saying he ready to go anywhere to negotiate a way out of the crisis following the US pullout from the nuclear deal. Iranian Presidency Office via AP -
(Left to right) Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, European Council President Donald Tusk, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, US President Donald Trump, Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, France's President Emmanuel Macron, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attend a working session on "International Economy and Trade, and International Security Agenda" in Biarritz, south-west France. AFP -
US President Donald Trump and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shake hands during a bilateral meeting at the Bellevue centre in Biarritz, south-west France. AFP -
Britain's Prime Minister, Boris Johnson meets with President of the European Council, Donald Tusk at the G7 summit in Biarritz, France. Getty Images -
US President Donald Trump with wife and US First Lady Melania Trump as they disembark from an airplane upon landing at the Biarritz Pays Basque Airport in Biarritz on the opening day of the G7 summit in France. EPA -
Security members are seen on top of the Hotel du Palais summit venue ahead of the G7 summit in Biarritz, France. Reuters -
US President Donald Trump walks past French airforce soldiers after disembarking from an airplane upon landing at the Biarritz Pays Basque Airport in Biarritz, south-west France on the first day of the annual G7 Summit. AFP -
European Council President Donald Tusk speaks during a news conference on the margins of the G7 summit in Biarritz, France. Reuters -
Protestors hold portraits representing G7 leaders on the opening day of the G7 summit. EPA -
US President Donald Trump disembarks from Air Force One upon landing at the Biarritz Pays Basque Airport in Biarritz on the opening day of the G7 summit in Biarritz, France. EPA -
French President Emmanuel Macron,flanked by President of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region Alain Rousset, samples local produce and wine, as he tours the exhibition hall above the international press center on the opening day of the G7 summit, in Anglet, France. Reuters -
A placard reading 'stop climate crime' is seen as demonstrators take part in a march in Hendaye, south-west France to protest against the annual G7 Summit. AFP -
Attac and Alternatives G7 spokesperson Aurelie Trouve speaks during a news conference in Anglet near Biarritz as part of the G7 summit, France. Reuters -
Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, U.S. First Lady Melania Trump , Akie Abe, wife of Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chile's First Lady Cecilia Morel, Jenny Morrison, wife of Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and Malgorzata Tusk, wife of European Council President Donald Tusk visit a church in Espelette, near Biarritz, southwestern France. AP -
Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte, right, arrives at the G-7 summit in Biarritz, France. AP
A landmark 2015 nuclear deal between Western powers and Iran all but collapsed after Mr Trump unilaterally withdrew US support last year, reimposing sanctions that have damaged Iran's economy.
Mr Macron has been leading efforts to defuse the crisis by finding ways of resuming dialogue, meeting Iran's top diplomat Mohammad Javad Zarif for rare talks in Paris on Friday on the eve of the summit.
He has also held telephone talks with President Hassan Rouhani
On Sunday, a diplomatic source said G7 leaders had mutually agreed to task Mr Macron with sending a message to Iran.
"Emmanuel Macron was mandated to talk with Iran and address a message" to the country to avoid an escalation in the region, the source said.
More to follow
