British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (left) works with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at 10 Downing Street in London, England, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Andy Lane | Bloomberg | Getty Images
World leaders have welcomed a deal between the United States and Iran to end wars in the Middle East, with some European countries reportedly suggesting they are willing to lift sanctions on Iran in exchange for measures to curb its nuclear program.
After more than three months of war, the United States and Iran reached an agreement on Sunday that will bring an immediate and permanent end to the conflict, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said, with a deal to be signed in Switzerland on Friday and the start of 60 days of additional talks on Iran’s nuclear program.
US President Donald Trump said he would approve the immediate lifting of the US naval blockade. Final terms have not yet been announced, but Iranian state media reported last Friday that the 14-page draft memorandum included a commitment to lift U.S. oil sanctions and for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 30 days.
According to Reuters, Britain, France, Germany and Italy issued a joint statement following the announcement of the agreement, saying, “Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons.We stand ready to cooperate with the United States, Iran and the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) to this end.”
“This is an opportunity to restore stability in the region and stabilize the global economy,” the group, known as the E4, said in a statement, calling for “rapid and comprehensive implementation” of the agreement and “the urgent reopening of the Strait of Hormuz with unconditional and unrestricted freedom of navigation.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hailed the deal as a “hugely important step towards ending the war”, but stressed that the Strait of Hormuz, a key energy chokepoint that has been effectively closed during the war, must remain “fully and permanently” open.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said he welcomed the agreement as “a big step towards resolving the situation,” according to a Google translation of her statement in X on Monday.
Takaichi said, “I strongly hope that this memorandum will be steadily implemented, that free and safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz will actually be ensured, and that a final agreement on issues such as the Iranian nuclear issue will be reached as soon as possible.”
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also welcomed the agreement in a statement, calling it “an important step towards strengthening sustainable peace and promoting economic growth regionally and internationally.”
The deal comes after months of stop-start negotiations and regional fighting since late February, roiling global energy markets and fueling fears of a global recession.
Oil fell after Sunday’s announcement of the deal, with Brent crude falling about 4% to $83 a barrel and WTI falling 4.8% to $80.8.
