BEIJING, June 16 — Multiple countries and global organizations have expressed welcome to the newly reached memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the United States and Iran, calling for its full implementation for lasting peace.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres 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, his spokesperson said Sunday. “This represents a critical step toward the peaceful settlement of the conflict,” spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement. China welcomes the MoU between the United States and Iran, and appreciates Pakistan’s mediation efforts, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said. “China hopes that the United States and Iran will sign the first-phase MoU on schedule, and that all relevant parties will remain committed to peaceful solutions and resolve issues through dialogue and negotiation,” Lin said at a regular news briefing on Monday.
China is ready to work with the international community to continue playing an active role in restoring peace and tranquility to the Middle East and Gulf region as soon as possible, he said. The leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Italy welcomed the U.S.-Iran peace deal announced on Sunday in a joint statement. “This is a moment of opportunity to restore regional stability and stabilize the global economy,” BBC quoted the statement as saying. While noting that Iran “must never acquire a nuclear weapon,” the major European countries said they are “prepared to lift relevant sanctions in response to clear, verifiable steps by Iran on its nuclear program.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the deal and urged its swift and full implementation by all parties. She said in a post on X that the deal should allow the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that freedom of navigation must be restored toll-free.
European Council President Antonio Costa also praised the deal, saying that he looked forward to an end to the war and to the full restoration of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, secretary-general of the Arab League, said he hoped the development would mark an important step for bringing a definitive end to Iranian and Israeli attacks on Arab territories, and help create conditions conducive to launching a process aimed at ending the conflict and achieving lasting stability in the region. He called on the parties involved to approach the next phase of negotiations on key issues in a positive spirit and work toward a peaceful resolution of the crisis. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, chairperson of the African Union Commission, encouraged all parties to remain committed to the full implementation of the MoU and to continue advancing efforts that promote lasting peace, stability and cooperation in the Middle East and beyond.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hailed the new deal as “a significant development towards establishing peace and tranquility in our region.” “I sincerely hope that this news, which the whole world has long needed, will contribute to the establishment of lasting peace and security in our region,” Erdogan said in a statement posted on X. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said the MoU could help end military escalations in the region, including in Lebanon. Aoun commended the deal’s recognition that Lebanon’s security and stability are essential for achieving regional stability. In a statement posted on X, the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry said the MoU provided for an immediate and permanent cessation of military operations and addressed a number of outstanding issues, reflecting a positive move toward resolving disputes through dialogue and diplomacy.It also stressed the importance of refraining from the use or threat of force and ending support for proxy conflicts, saying such principles are essential to strengthening regional and international security and ensuring the continued freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran and the United States finalized an MoU on Sunday, aiming to end the war and military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, immediately and permanently. The document will be signed officially in Geneva on Friday. Further negotiations between Iran and the United States for a final agreement will be postponed until both sides fulfill their commitments under the MoU.
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