World Leaders Welcome U.S.-Iran Deal, With Europe Pushing for Hormuz Security

World leaders responded cautiously but positively to the preliminary U.S.-Iran understanding announced by President Donald Trump, framing it as a potential step toward regional stability and a stronger global economy. In a joint statement, Britain’s Keir Starmer, France’s Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Friedrich Merz and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni called for the agreement to be finalized urgently and implemented quickly and in full.

The European leaders said they were ready to support the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz without conditions or restrictions, including through a defensive, fully independent mission to protect commercial shipping and carry out mine-clearing operations. They also said they were prepared to ensure Iran never acquires nuclear weapons, while reaffirming Lebanon’s territorial integrity.

Trump said the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports would be lifted immediately and wrote to shipping companies, “Ships of the world, start your engines.” He said the strait would resume operations on Friday, when the memorandum is to be signed, and that the coming days would be used to clear mines from the water. He also said the reopening would come at no cost, while officials in Tehran did not comment on those details.

Starmer called the deal “a very important step forward” toward ending the war, ensuring regional stability and reopening Hormuz. Macron said a joint French-British naval task force was ready to help, and Merz described the breakthrough as one that could “pave the way for a more vibrant global economy and a safer Middle East.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned that “dependence on energy has become a weapon,” urging EU states to diversify supply routes and develop alternative export corridors away from the Hormuz bottleneck. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani also welcomed the deal, though Doha said it was only a first step and that tougher issues, including Iran’s nuclear program and the permanent status of the strait, will remain central in at least 60 days of follow-up talks after Friday’s signing. Israel has not yet officially responded, despite believing the agreement could affect it more than any other regional state.