G7 allies are pressing US Secretary of State Marco Rubio for clarity on American plans for Iran, almost one month into the war in the Middle East, with concern also intensifying over the extent of cooperation between Russia and the Islamic republic, AFP reports.

Having skipped the first day of the meeting at the historic monastery-turned-luxury hotel complex outside Paris, Rubio arrived at the Vaux-de-Cernay Abbey for a full day of talks with counterparts from leading industrialised democracies.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said the international community needed to collaborate even more closely now that it was dealing with two wars — including the conflict sparked by Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine — in which Russia and Iran were cooperating.

“We need to strengthen our unity. Given that Iran and Russia are working together in the closest way, we must stand even closer together,” Wadephul told reporters.

He told German radio earlier ahead of the talks that allies needed to know “how the US will proceed” in Iran. Rubio, he said, would “perhaps explain this more precisely”.