Iran has rejected a G7 statement which called on Tehran to stop supporting Hamas fighters and taking actions that “destabilise” the Middle East, AFP reports.

The G7 called on Iran to “refrain from providing support for Hamas and taking further actions that destabilise the Middle East, including support for Lebanese Hezbollah and other non-state actors”.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani “strongly condemned” the statement by the group which includes the United States, Britain, Germany, Canada, Italy, France, and Japan.

He said Iran has engaged in “non-stop efforts to stop military attacks of the Zionist aggressor regime (Israel) on the defenceless citizens” in Gaza.

“What was expected from the meeting of the Group of 7 foreign ministers in Tokyo was to fulfil their international responsibility, including condemning the acts of the Zionist regime that violate human rights and international law in Gaza.”