US, Iran Announce MOU to End Hostilities; G7 Leaders Convene in Évian
The United States and Iran reached a memorandum of understanding to end military operations and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as G7 leaders gather in France to discuss global stability.
The conversation that mattered
A significant diplomatic breakthrough emerged as the United States and Iran announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on June 15, 2026, aimed at halting military operations and ensuring the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. This agreement, mediated by Pakistan with support from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, signals an apparent end to months of conflict in the Middle East.
US President Donald Trump confirmed the deal, authorizing the immediate removal of the naval blockade and the toll-free opening of the Strait. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated the agreement marked an "immediate and permanent end" to the war.
A formal signing ceremony is scheduled for June 19 in Switzerland. The announcement was welcomed by G7 leaders convening in Évian-les-Bains, France, who stressed the importance of swift and comprehensive implementation to restore regional stability and stabilize the global economy. The MOU also sets the stage for further negotiations on Iran's nuclear program and sanctions.
Today's meetings
Prime Minister Takaichi (Japan)
Actor Two: Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (Italy)
Venue Or Format: Rome, Italy
What Was Discussed: Leaders discussed the situation in the Middle East, developments in Ukraine, the regional situation in East Asia, and economic security, welcoming the US-Iran memorandum.
Signal: Deepens the Special Strategic Partnership between Japan and Italy, aligning G7 coordination on global challenges.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi (India)
Actor Two: Prime Minister Robert Fico (Slovak Republic)
Venue Or Format: Bratislava Castle, Slovak Republic
What Was Discussed: Leaders elevated bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Partnership and exchanged MOUs on digital technologies, labor migration, higher education, research, and audio-visual creation.
Signal: Marks a new chapter in India-Slovakia ties with expanded cooperation across key sectors.
President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Somaliland)
Actor Two: Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar (Israel)
Venue Or Format: Jerusalem, Israel
What Was Discussed: Opened Somaliland's embassy in Jerusalem, solidifying bilateral ties following Israel's recognition of Somaliland in December 2025.
Signal: Reinforces Israel's diplomatic recognition of Somaliland and strengthens their partnership.
Joint statements + readouts
Australia, Canada, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom
Topic: US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding
Key Line: We warmly welcome the announcement of the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran, and it is now vital that the detailed negotiations are concluded and this agreement is implemented rapidly and comprehensively.
UK, Canada, France, Norway
Topic: Sanctions on Israeli Settlers
Key Line: In coordinated action, sanctions were announced against Israeli settlers and settler organizations alleged to be responsible for financing, enabling, and carrying out attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank.
Multilateral pulse
52nd G7 Summit, Évian-les-Bains, France. Leaders from G7 nations, joined by the EU, began their annual summit on June 15, discussing global economic imbalances, the situation in Ukraine, and developments in the Middle East, including the US-Iran MOU.
World Health Organization (WHO). Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus issued an open letter to G7, G20, and BRICS leaders, urging them to finalize the Pandemic Agreement's Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing annex.
Bilateral threads worth following
Japan ↔ Italy
Current State: Elevating their Special Strategic Partnership with new agreements on economic security.
Last Move: Prime Ministers Takaichi and Meloni held a summit in Rome on June 15, signing an intergovernmental memorandum to strengthen supply chain resilience in semiconductors, critical minerals, and frontier technologies.
India ↔ Slovak Republic
Current State: Strengthening cooperation across various sectors, elevating their relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership.
Last Move: Prime Ministers Modi and Fico met on June 15 in Bratislava, exchanging MOUs on digital technologies, labor migration, higher education, research, and defense.
Israel ↔ Somaliland
Current State: Solidifying diplomatic ties following Israel's recognition of Somaliland.
Last Move: Somaliland President Abdullahi and Israeli Foreign Minister Sa'ar opened Somaliland's embassy in Jerusalem on June 15.
What we'll be watching next 72h
- The 52nd G7 Summit continues in Évian-les-Bains, France, until June 17, with ongoing discussions on global challenges.
- A formal signing ceremony for the US-Iran memorandum of understanding is scheduled for June 19 in Switzerland.
- The Atlantic Council hosts a public event on "Border Security and Defense Cooperation in North America" on June 17.
Reporting + analyst voices: grounded via Google Search at publish time.