G7 Meets in France, US-Iran Deal Is an Early Test
G7 leaders met in Evian-les-Bains, France, as the United States and Iran said they had reached an initial agreement to end the war.
As reported by Arab News, quoted on Monday, June 15, the issue of Iran will be one of the main agendas of the G7 Summit on June 15-17. The G7 is a group of developed countries consisting of the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, and Japan.
In addition to Iran, G7 leaders will also discuss the war in Ukraine, global economic inequality, and the supply of important minerals outside of China's dominance. Important minerals are strategic raw materials for modern industries, including electric vehicles, batteries, chips, and clean energy technologies.
US President Donald Trump is scheduled to arrive in Evian-les-Bains on Monday. His presence is of concern because many G7 leaders are still watching the rapidly changing US foreign policy direction.
Trump is also scheduled to meet with Middle Eastern leaders and attend a working session with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The meeting comes as Ukraine continues to seek additional military support from its allies.
However, the big focus remains on the US-Iran deal. A memorandum of understanding is scheduled to be signed on Friday in Switzerland, although full details have not been announced.
Trump said the Strait of Hormuz would be opened on Friday. The Strait of Hormuz is an important route for the world's oil and gas shipments. He also said he had ordered the lifting of the US blockade of Iranian ports.
In the same report, Arab News quoted the secretariat of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran as saying that the war and military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, would end permanently starting Monday night.
Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said a broader agreement would be negotiated during the 60-day ceasefire. The issue includes sanctions relief for Iran. Iran's nuclear program will be discussed in further negotiations.
The United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Egypt will also be present at the summit. The UAE is directly affected by the war, while Qatar and Egypt play an important role as mediators.
For French President Emmanuel Macron, this summit is a major diplomatic stage ahead of the end of his second term next year. Macron will welcome Trump on Monday and host a dinner at the Palace of Versailles on Wednesday.
In the report, France is said to want to use the G7 forum to encourage discussion of global macroeconomic imbalances. Paris sees this as a shared responsibility: China produces too much, the United States consumes too much, and Europe invests less.
Brazil, India, Kenya, and South Korea were also invited to the G7 to join the discussion. Macron also urged China to increase its domestic consumption.