France, UK, Germany, Italy welcome US-Iran deal; signal readiness to lift sanctions
London, June 15
The leaders of France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy have welcomed the announcement of a memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran, hailing it as a major diplomatic breakthrough and expressing readiness to lift relevant sanctions if Iran takes clear, verifiable steps to address concerns over its nuclear programme.
In a joint statement, the four European leaders congratulated the US, the Iranian government and all parties involved in facilitating the agreement. They also acknowledged the role played by mediators in advancing the diplomatic process.
"We warmly welcome the announcement of the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran," the leaders said. "We congratulate the United States, the Iranian government and all those involved, including Pakistan, Qatar and all other mediators, on this diplomatic breakthrough."
The statement described the development as "a moment of opportunity to restore regional stability and stabilise the global economy," while stressing the importance of completing detailed negotiations and ensuring the agreement is implemented without delay.
"It is now vital that the detailed negotiations are concluded and this agreement is implemented rapidly and comprehensively. We are ready to support that effort," the leaders said.
The four countries also underscored the importance of maritime security in the Gulf, calling for the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the restoration of unrestricted navigation for commercial vessels.
"The urgent re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz with unconditional and unrestricted freedom of navigation is essential," the statement said.
The leaders added that they were committed to contributing to that objective, "including through a strictly defensive and independent mission to reassure commercial shipping and conduct mine clearance operations."
Reaffirming their long-standing position on Iran's nuclear programme, the leaders stated that "Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon." They expressed readiness to work with the US, Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to ensure this objective is achieved and said they were prepared to ease relevant sanctions in response to "clear, verifiable steps" by Tehran.
The statement further pledged intensive engagement with the US, Iran and regional partners to secure a lasting diplomatic settlement. The leaders also reaffirmed "full support to the stability, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon and the importance of a robust ceasefire."
— IANS
Reader Comments
Interesting that Pakistan is mentioned as a mediator. They have been playing both sides as usual. For India, stability in Gulf means our diaspora there is safe and energy supplies remain secure. Hope this deal is watertight and not another temporary ceasefire like before.
As someone working in shipping, reopening Strait of Hormuz is huge news. My company had to reroute vessels around Africa, adding weeks to delivery times. This directly impacts global supply chains and prices. Let's hope the mine clearance operations happen quickly and smoothly.
European powers talking about sanctions relief for "clear, verifiable steps" sounds nice, but we've seen this movie before. Iran says one thing, then enriches uranium secretly. Also, why is Lebanon mentioned? Seems like they're linking unrelated issues. India should stay cautious and not put all eggs in this basket.
As an Indian, I welcome this diplomatic breakthrough. The Middle East is our extended neighbourhood - millions of Indians work there and we get most of our oil from Gulf. But I'm skeptical about Europe's "defensive mission" in Strait of Hormuz. That sounds like gunboat diplomacy in disguise. 😏
This is massive for global energy markets. As someone who follows geopolitics, the US-Iran thaw could reshape alliances in the region. India's position as a neutral player might actually benefit - we can engage with both sides. But let's not forget Iran's human rights record and its support for proxies.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.