Leaders of the G7 nations gathered in France on Tuesday with the United States-Iran agreement and the war in Ukraine dominating the agenda, as European allies seek progress on both crises.
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French President Emmanuel Macron, hosting the summit in Evian-les-Bains near the Swiss border, said leaders would focus on ensuring that the agreement between Washington and Tehran is turned into a “solid, serious” final settlement.
Focus on Strait of Hormuz
Macron said a working lunch on Tuesday would centre on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for global energy supplies. Discussions are expected to include a possible French-British maritime security mission and alternative energy transport routes that avoid the waterway.
US President Donald Trump has said the strait would be fully reopened on Friday, when a formal agreement is expected to be signed in Geneva.
The preliminary deal, digitally signed on Monday, is set to open a 60-day negotiating period covering issues including Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium and the lifting of international sanctions.
The G7 brings together the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the European Union.
Leaders from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Egypt are also attending the talks, although diplomats say they are not expected to play a major role in discussions on Iran’s nuclear programme.
Arriving in France on Monday evening, Trump welcomed the agreement, describing it as a deal that would bring significant benefits.
European Backing for Agreement
Before the summit opened, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement, also signed by Canada, congratulating the United States, Iran and mediators on what they described as a diplomatic breakthrough.
They stressed the importance of detailed negotiations and rapid implementation of the agreement to allow tanker traffic to resume through the Strait of Hormuz.
Macron later said France and its partners stood ready to move quickly to support the reopening of the waterway. Paris and London have promoted plans for a maritime mission aimed at restoring security in the area when conditions permit.
Ukraine Remains High on Agenda
The war in Ukraine is expected to be the second major focus of the summit, with European leaders hoping to persuade Trump that previous US proposals for ending the conflict have favoured Moscow too heavily.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is participating in Tuesday’s opening session, which is devoted to efforts to build peace in Ukraine, and could also hold separate talks with Trump.
On Monday, Zelenskyy renewed an offer to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin at the summit. Putin previously rejected a similar proposal, saying there was little value in a meeting without a draft agreement.
Europe Seeks Pressure on Russia
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Ukraine was continuing to resist Russian advances and had regained some territory while developing the ability to strike targets deep inside Russia.
She also argued that sanctions were placing increasing strain on Russia’s economy.
Negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv have stalled as both sides continue to intensify military attacks.
European governments are seeking to demonstrate that they remain open to talks with Russia while also increasing sanctions pressure and military support for Ukraine, arguing that Moscow is responsible for the lack of progress toward a settlement.
Trump said he held positive conversations on Sunday with both Zelenskyy and Putin and believed both leaders were willing to explore steps toward ending the war.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 16 June 2026