KEY POINTS
- EU chief Antonio Costa welcomed the US-Iran deal to end the Middle East war.
- Washington and Tehran say they will sign the agreement on Friday in Switzerland.
- Trump said the Strait of Hormuz would reopen and the US naval blockade would lift.
The European Union chief, Antonio Costa, on Monday welcomed a deal between the United States and Iran to end the Middle East war, and he said the bloc stands ready to contribute to a strategy for “lasting peace.” Costa, who serves as European Council President, shared his reaction on X.
Costa welcomes a path to peace
According to Costa, the agreement offers a chance to halt a conflict that has drained the region. “I look forward to an end to this costly war and to the full restoration of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” he wrote.
Moreover, the United States and Iran said they had reached a deal to end the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, and to reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz. However, the two sides offered little indication on the thorny question of Tehran’s nuclear program, which has long divided negotiators.
A signing set for Switzerland
The two parties said they would sign the agreement on Friday in Switzerland, signaling what would mark a major breakthrough after months of war. Indeed, the fighting has taken thousands of lives and roiled global energy markets, so a durable truce could ease pressure on oil prices.
Although officials kept most details private, US President Donald Trump said the Strait of Hormuz, a key conduit for global oil supplies, would reopen after the planned signing. Furthermore, Trump announced the breakthrough on Sunday on Truth as he marked his 80th birthday. “The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete,” he wrote.
In addition, Trump said he had authorized the reopening of the strait and the removal of the United States naval blockade. “Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!” he declared. Ultimately, the announcements signaled a possible turning point in a conflict that has unsettled the region and the wider energy market for months, even as key questions about Iran’s nuclear program remain unresolved.
