G8 voices "profound concern" over Iran's nuclear programme

Leaders of the world's eight most powerful industrialized economies on Saturday said they were "profoundly concerned" by Iran's nuclear programme and urged all countries to back a new round of United Nations sanctions, dpa reported.

The leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) discussed foreign policy challenges during a second day of talks in Huntsville, Canada, with Iran and North Korea topping their concerns.

"We are profoundly concerned by Iran's continued lack of transparency regarding its nuclear activities and its stated intention to continue and expand enriching uranium," read the G8 summit's final communique.

The G8 also issued an indirect condemnation of the Iranian government's crackdown on political demonstrators since a disputed election last summer, urging Tehran to "respect the rule of law and freedom of expression."

The UN Security Council passed a new wave of sanctions against Iran on June 9. The US and European Union also unilaterally imposed additional sanctions on the Islamic regime, but China and Russia have been more reluctant to back the push for additional moves.

The UN sanctions resolution "reflects the concerns of the international community on the Iranian nuclear issue, and we call on all states to implement it fully," the G8 said. The statement did not call on countries to adopt additional sanctions.

The G8 includes Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States.