World Leaders Welcome US-Iran Peace Deal as Diplomats Hail ‘Critical Step’ Toward Ending Middle East War
GENEVA — June 15, 2026 — A landmark peace agreement between the United States and Iran, brokered after more than three months of devastating conflict, has drawn broad international acclaim from world leaders and global institutions, who hailed the accord as a “critical step” toward restoring stability in the Middle East and reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The framework deal, announced by US President Donald Trump and facilitated by a coalition of mediators led by Pakistan, provides for an immediate and permanent cessation of hostilities, the lifting of the US naval blockade on Iran, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz — a vital artery for global energy supplies through which approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil normally passes. A formal signing ceremony is scheduled for Friday, June 19, in Geneva, with US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf expected to lead their respective delegations.
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United Nations Hails ‘Critical Step’ Toward Peace
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the agreement as a “critically important step” toward resolving the conflict, calling for its swift and full implementation.
“The Secretary-General welcomes the announcement that the United States and Iran have agreed on a peace deal that provides for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, as well as a framework for further negotiations,” a spokesperson for Guterres said in a statement. “This represents a critical step towards the peaceful settlement of the conflict”.
Guterres expressed deep appreciation to Pakistan, Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and other regional countries for their constructive role in supporting the negotiations that led to the peace deal.
European Powers Pledge Support, Demand Iran Address Nuclear Concerns
The leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Italy issued a joint statement congratulating the United States, Iran, Pakistan, Qatar and other mediators on the “diplomatic breakthrough”.
“This is a moment of opportunity to restore regional stability and stabilise the global economy,” the statement read. “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 E4 leaders stressed that Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon and reaffirmed their readiness to work with Washington, Tehran and the International Atomic Energy Agency toward this end. “We are prepared to lift relevant sanctions in response to clear, verifiable steps by Iran on its nuclear programme,” they said.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the agreement as “a hugely important step forward” in ending the war and restoring regional stability. He specifically congratulated President Trump and “the mediators from Pakistan, Qatar and elsewhere who have contributed to this breakthrough”.
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Starmer stressed the need for full implementation to ensure permanent freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and reiterated that “Iran must never have a nuclear weapon”. He also noted that the UK and France stand ready to support the restoration of navigation through the strait, including, if necessary, through the deployment of a defensive independent multinational mission to support demining operations.
French President Emmanuel Macron called for the “urgent and unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz” and noted that the international mission established with the United Kingdom is ready to support maritime traffic restoration. Macron added that the agreement should lead to broader negotiations addressing Iran’s nuclear and ballistic programmes as well as its policy of regional destabilization.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz congratulated both Washington and Tehran on the “diplomatic breakthrough,” saying it “can pave the way towards a reinvigorated global economy and a more secure Middle East”.
Pakistan’s Mediation Role Draws Widespread Praise
A central theme across international reactions was the acknowledgment of Pakistan’s pivotal mediation role. World leaders from Australia, Türkiye, Qatar, Japan, Kuwait, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom specifically appreciated Islamabad’s diplomatic efforts that helped secure the ceasefire and facilitate the eventual understanding.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan thanked Pakistan for its “exceptional mediation efforts” and appreciated the support provided by Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Erdogan described the agreement as “an important development for establishing peace and tranquility in our region” and urged all parties to avoid provocations that could escalate tensions before the formal signing.
Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani also thanked Pakistan and other parties that “contributed to creating the conditions conducive to reaching this understanding”. The Qatari Foreign Ministry described the agreement as “an important step toward sustainable peace and economic growth”.
China also backed Islamabad’s mediation role, commending Pakistan for bringing the two parties to agree to a peace deal.
President of the European Council Antonio Costa welcomed the agreement and commended the “tireless” diplomatic efforts of all those who made the deal possible.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni extended “heartfelt thanks” to all mediators, “and in particular to Qatar and Pakistan, who have made this agreement possible. This is an opportunity for peace that must be seized”.
Asia-Pacific Nations Welcome Economic Relief
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expressed hope that “free and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz will be ensured in practice, and that a final agreement on Iran’s nuclear issue and other matters will be reached as soon as possible”.
She commended the efforts of the relevant countries that played a mediating role, a sentiment echoed across the region.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in a joint statement with Foreign Minister Penny Wong, welcomed the agreement and reiterated Australia’s long-standing call for de-escalation. The leaders emphasized that restoring the vital trade corridor through the Strait of Hormuz is essential to easing pressure on energy prices and economies, “including in our region”.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters described the deal as a “pivotal, constructive deal” and “a step towards reducing tensions and promoting stability in a region that is critical to global economic security”.
European Union, UN Stand Ready to Support Next Phase
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said the deal marks “a potential breakthrough” that could give much-needed space for deeper negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme and other critical issues. “Once implemented, the deal should also ease the global energy crisis,” she noted.
Kallas confirmed that EU foreign ministers would discuss how the bloc can be closely involved in the next phase, adding: “From economic leverage to nuclear expertise and longstanding relationships with Gulf partners, the EU stands ready to contribute to a sustainable resolution”.
President of the European Council Antonio Costa welcomed the agreement and commended the “tireless” diplomatic efforts of all those who made the deal possible.
Skepticism and Criticism Emerge in Washington
Despite the broad international welcome, the deal has faced sharp criticism from Democratic lawmakers in the United States, who argue that the terms represent a strategic retreat.
Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, told Fox News that the US would be receiving “less” under the proposed deal than it had under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), from which Trump withdrew during his first term.
“So, we have spent billions of dollars. We’ve lost 14 personnel killed in action, hundreds wounded, and we’ve disrupted the world economy. And we’re getting basically less than what we had under the JCPOA, which President Trump walked away from,” Reed said.
Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) called the reported terms “basically a surrender document” from Trump to Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said the war itself was “reckless” and “has been a disaster,” while criticizing Trump for withdrawing from the original nuclear deal, arguing that the Islamic Republic is “stronger” and Americans are “less safe” under his leadership.
However, the vast majority of congressional Democrats have consistently voted in favor of war powers resolutions attempting to force Trump to wind down the conflict, and the deal’s announcement represents the cessation of hostilities they had long sought.
Next Steps: Geneva Signing and 60-Day Negotiations
The formal signing ceremony is scheduled for June 19 in Geneva, with the US represented by Vice President JD Vance and Iran by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The event, if it takes place, would mark the highest-level meeting between Washington and Tehran in nearly half a century.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi confirmed that the text of the memorandum of understanding has been finalized and that the Strait of Hormuz will be fully reopened within 30 days after signing.
According to Iranian media reports, the agreement also provides for a 60-day ceasefire period during which the parties will discuss sanctions relief, Tehran’s nuclear program, reconstruction and economic development, as well as mechanisms for monitoring compliance with commitments. The start of negotiations depends on US actions, including the cessation of military operations, the lifting of the blockade, and the unfreezing of Iranian assets.
The United States, however, has denied any obligation to release $12 billion in frozen assets ahead of negotiations, signaling that disputes over implementation remain.
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