G7 leaders to stay in close contact over Gulf crisis in coming weeks, Meloni says

ROME, March 11 (Reuters) - Leaders of the Group of Seven agreed to remain in close contact "in the coming weeks" to help resolve the Gulf crisis, stabilise markets and safeguard energy supplies, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Wednesday.

Meloni said G7 leaders discussed earlier in the day the economic and energy implications of the war on Iran, adding it was important that current market volatility did not result in a structural impact on economic growth.

She also welcomed a decision by the International Energy Agency to release up to 400 million barrels of crude oil to stabilise markets, but did not say how much Italy would contribute from its reserves.