Key facts
- European allies are ready to help Iran, with France and Britain planning multinational missions for shipping security and mine clearing.
- President Trump backs a G7 statement supporting a US-Iran deal that reopens the Strait of Hormuz.
- The G7 leaders called for follow-on negotiations to address Iran's ballistic missile program and regional activities.
- The G7 statement supports an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon and efforts to disarm Hezbollah.
- G7 leaders agreed to increase military aid to Ukraine, including air defence and long-range capabilities.
- The G7 plans to increase pressure on Russia's war economy through strengthened sanctions.
European allies are signaling their readiness to contribute to efforts aimed at stabilizing the situation in Iran, particularly concerning maritime security. France and Britain have put forward plans for multinational missions to safeguard shipping and clear mines, with mine-clearing vessels already dispatched. This collaborative approach is seen as a way to restore normal trade routes and mend diplomatic strains with the U.S.
President Trump has backed a joint G7 leaders' statement that welcomes the deal struck with Iran, which reopens the Strait of Hormuz and postpones talks on diluting enriched uranium. However, the statement emphasizes the need for a follow-on agreement to address Iran's ballistic missile program and support for proxy forces, issues not covered in the memorandum of understanding.
The G7 meeting also addressed the conflict in Ukraine, with leaders hailing battlefield momentum and calling for increased pressure on Russia through sanctions and additional arms deliveries. The statement also called for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon and supported efforts to disarm Hezbollah.
Iran is expected to reject the proposal for further talks involving European leaders on its missile program and support for proxy forces, as Tehran has been negotiating exclusively with the U.S. and views Europe as largely irrelevant. Iran is also likely to reject France and Britain's plan for a taskforce to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz.