The international community is expressing unanimous welcome after the United States and Iran agreed on the 14th (local time) to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to end the war.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement welcoming the agreement that it was a "significant step forward" toward resolving the war in the Middle East, and thanked the countries that mediated, including Pakistan, Türkiye, and Saudi Arabia.
European Council President António Costa also said on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), "We look forward to this agreement ending a war that has caused immense sacrifice and to the full restoration of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz."
European countries are also issuing statements of welcome one after another. The leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy said in a joint statement, "We sincerely welcome the announcement of the MOU between the United States and Iran," adding, "Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons, and we stand ready to work with the United States, Iran, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to that end."
They stressed that they are prepared to lift sanctions on Iran if Tehran takes steps related to its nuclear program. The United States and Iran have agreed to discuss the complete dismantlement of Iran's nuclear program and the establishment of a permanent peace in additional talks to be held over the next 60 days.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a separate statement, "For peace to endure, it is essential that the commitments made, particularly regarding Iran's nuclear program, are robust, verifiable, and fully implemented," stressing that "it remains the United Kingdom's firm and long-standing position that Iran must never possess nuclear weapons."
French President Emmanuel Macron also said that on the 16th, Group of Seven (G7) leaders are to discuss the issue of a long-term reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, adding, "G7 leaders will discuss the ripple effects of this agreement, support for Lebanon, ways to ensure the sustained reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and the matter of a final agreement on Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile activities."
In Asia, Japan Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expressed welcome and urged measures to ensure free and safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Takaichi said on X, "Until now, we have pursued diplomatic efforts on the view that the de-escalation of the situation being realized as soon as possible is of paramount importance," adding, "From that perspective, we welcome the memorandum agreement as a major step toward settling the situation."
She added, "The end-of-war agreement must be realized so that free and safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is secured as soon as possible," and "At the same time, we strongly hope that a final agreement on issues such as Iran's nuclear program will be achieved as soon as possible."
Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong also urged Iran to "seize this (agreement) as an opportunity to address the longstanding concerns over the nuclear program that threatens international security." Türkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed the end-of-war agreement but said, "We must be on guard against acts of sabotage that may occur until the day of the final signature, and refrain from rhetoric, provocations, and actions that could heighten tensions."
However, Israel, which carried out airstrikes on Iran alongside the United States, is remaining silent even as news of the end-of-war agreement spreads. An official response from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to be issued.
According to The New York Times (NYT), Israel's political circles are voicing discontent over the agreement, calling it a "catastrophe" (former defense minister Avigdor Lieberman) and "one of the most shocking failures of Israel's foreign and security policy" (former Prime Minister Yair Lapid).