Karandeep-Canada: Westport, Ireland / Geneva, Switzerland — In what is being called one of the most significant diplomatic developments in decades, the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom have issued a landmark joint statement welcoming a memorandum of understanding reached between the United States and Iran — a deal that could end months of devastating conflict in the Middle East and restore stability to global energy markets.
The joint statement, released June 15, 2026, from Westport, Ireland, marks a unified position from four of America's closest G7 allies as world leaders gather for the 2026 G7 Leaders' Summit.
The Deal : President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance both digitally signed the memorandum of understanding with Iran, which would cease fighting on all fronts for 60 days and is expected to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to all traffic. A formal signing ceremony is scheduled for Friday in Geneva, Switzerland. ABC News
Markets greeted the news with a rally in stocks, with the S&P 500 rising 1.9%, while oil prices dropped by almost 5%. The deal is widely seen as a major turning point in a conflict that has rattled the global economy for months. NPR
The Allied Response: In their joint statement, Prime Minister Mark Carney alongside the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom offered their full endorsement of the breakthrough, while also outlining the work that remains ahead.
"We warmly welcome the announcement of the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran. We congratulate the United States, the Iranian government and all those involved, including Pakistan, Qatar and all other mediators, on this diplomatic breakthrough. This is a moment of opportunity to restore regional stability and stabilise the global economy," the leaders said.
The five nations stressed the urgency of implementing the agreement swiftly and comprehensively, warning that momentum must not be lost.
The Strait of Hormuz: A central pillar of the joint statement is the immediate and unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical shipping lanes through which approximately 20 per cent of the global oil supply passes.
The allied leaders committed to playing an active role in securing freedom of navigation, including through what they described as a "strictly defensive and independent mission" to reassure commercial shipping and conduct mine clearance operations in the waterway.
A senior US administration official confirmed the agreement provides for the immediate opening of the Strait of Hormuz, noting it would take a little time given the presence of mines in the strait. Trump declared that passage through the waterway would be "permanently toll free."
Nuclear Programme and Sanctions: On the critical question of Iran's nuclear ambitions, the five allied leaders were unequivocal. "Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon," the statement declared. The leaders said they stand ready to work alongside the US, Iran, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to ensure this outcome, and indicated a willingness to lift relevant sanctions in response to clear, verifiable steps by Iran on its nuclear programme.
The statement also drew support from a broader coalition, with the leaders of Japan, Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Latvia, Poland, and Portugal also signing on to the joint declaration.
Lebanon and Regional Stability: The allied nations also used the statement to reaffirm their support for Lebanon, calling for a robust ceasefire and emphasizing their commitment to that country's stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity — even as Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs continued earlier in the day, drawing a rare public rebuke from President Trump himself.
Canada's Role: Prime Minister Carney, attending the G7 Summit, was among the signatories of the joint statement — a signal of Canada's continued commitment to multilateral diplomacy and its role as a stabilizing voice on the world stage at a critical moment in global affairs.
Significant challenges remain, including whether Israel will continue its offensive in Lebanon. But for now, the international community is cautiously optimistic that a new chapter in Middle East diplomacy may finally be underway.
The formal signing ceremony between the US and Iran is scheduled for Friday, June 19, 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Souces : CNN, GOV.UK, The Philadelphia Inquirer