G7 FMs Condemn Iran's Export of Ballistic Missiles to Russia

An Iranian woman crosses the street near a new anti-Israel billboard carrying a picture of Iranian drones.  EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
An Iranian woman crosses the street near a new anti-Israel billboard carrying a picture of Iranian drones. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
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G7 FMs Condemn Iran's Export of Ballistic Missiles to Russia

An Iranian woman crosses the street near a new anti-Israel billboard carrying a picture of Iranian drones.  EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
An Iranian woman crosses the street near a new anti-Israel billboard carrying a picture of Iranian drones. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH

The foreign ministers of the Group of the Seven have condemned on Saturday "in the strongest terms" Iran's export and Russia's procurement of Iranian ballistic missiles.

"Iran must immediately cease all support to Russia's illegal and unjustifiable war against Ukraine and halt such transfers of ballistic missiles, UAVs and related technology, which constitute a direct threat to the Ukrainian people as well as European and international security more broadly," the G7 ministers said in a statement.

G7 groups Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Great Britain and the US.

Iran's foreign minister said that Tehran was open to diplomacy to solve disputes but not "threats and pressure,” state media reported on Saturday, after the US and three European powers imposed sanctions against the country's aviation sector.
Abbas Araqchi's comments come a day after The European Union's chief diplomat said the bloc is considering new sanctions targeting Iran's aviation sector, in reaction to reports Tehran supplied Russia with ballistic missiles in its war against Ukraine.
Araqchi said on Wednesday that Tehran had not delivered any ballistic missiles to Russia and sanctions imposed on Iran by the United States and three European powers would not solve any problems between them.

The United States, Germany, Britain and France on Tuesday imposed new sanctions on Iran, including measures against its national airline Iran Air.



Nigerian Troops Rescue 13 Kidnap Victims

A Nigerian soldier watches while people are rescued from flooded areas in Maiduguri, northern Borno state, Nigeria September 12, 2024. REUTERS/Ahmed Kingimi
A Nigerian soldier watches while people are rescued from flooded areas in Maiduguri, northern Borno state, Nigeria September 12, 2024. REUTERS/Ahmed Kingimi
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Nigerian Troops Rescue 13 Kidnap Victims

A Nigerian soldier watches while people are rescued from flooded areas in Maiduguri, northern Borno state, Nigeria September 12, 2024. REUTERS/Ahmed Kingimi
A Nigerian soldier watches while people are rescued from flooded areas in Maiduguri, northern Borno state, Nigeria September 12, 2024. REUTERS/Ahmed Kingimi

Nigeria's army has rescued 13 hostages who were kidnapped in northwest Kaduna state, following a military operation prompted by a tip-off, a government official said on Saturday.

After receiving information that the kidnappers were about to relocate the six men and seven women, the military launched an operation at a camp near Chigulu village, in the Kachia local government area of Kaduna state.

Following a gun battle the bandits fled into the surrounding forest and abandoned their captives, Kaduna's security commissioner Samuel Aruwan said in a statement.

Kidnappings in northern Nigeria, particularly in schools and on highways, have become frequent as criminal gangs seek ransom payments.

Abductions often force families to sell land, cattle, and grain to secure the release of their loved ones.

The freed hostages were taken to a military facility for medical assessment and debriefing before being reunited with their families.