US President Donald Trump has announced that the Strait of Hormuz will be 'completely open' from Friday, as G7 leaders in Évian-les-Bains scramble to stabilise the fragile US-Iran agreement. The deal, signed as a memorandum of understanding, aims to lift the US naval blockade in exchange for Iranian cooperation, but unresolved issues over waterway fees and Israeli breaches of the Lebanon ceasefire threaten its durability.
Speaking at the summit, Trump rejected a proposed UK-France joint naval mission, stating, 'I don't think we will need much help.' He emphasised that Iran 'fully agreed' to forgo nuclear weapons with 'strong policing powers,' though technical negotiations on the nuclear programme and sanctions relief are set to begin later this week.
White House officials confirmed that no frozen Iranian assets have been released yet, and US forces near Iran will not be immediately reduced. 'We want to see the Iranians do what they promise,' an official said. The formal signing ceremony is scheduled for Friday in Geneva, attended by US Vice-President JD Vance and Iranian negotiator Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that the ceasefire must apply to Lebanon after an Israeli drone strike killed one person in southern Lebanon, violating the 60-day truce. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen cautioned, 'There can be no lasting peace whilst Lebanon remains in flames.' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu distanced himself from the deal, calling it Trump's decision, as analysts noted his war goals of regime change in Tehran remain unfulfilled.
