US-Iran peace deal gets global support

WASHINGTON, June 15 (Agencies): UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday welcomed the announcement of a peace deal between the US and Iran, hailing it as an important step toward ending the conflict.
"I warmly congratulate the US & Iran for having reached a peace deal that provides for an immediate & permanent ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, as well as a framework for further negotiations," Guterres said in a statement on US social media platform X.
His remarks came after Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that the US and Iran had reached a peace agreement following intensive negotiations, with both sides declaring an immediate and permanent end to military operations across all fronts, including in Lebanon.
"This represents a critical step towards the peaceful settlement of the conflict," Guterres said.
China welcomed on Monday an agreement by the United States and Iran to end the Middle East war, commending Pakistan for its mediation efforts.
"China welcomes the agreement … and expresses appreciation for the mediation efforts made by Pakistan," foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a news briefing, adding that Beijing hopes the deal would be signed as scheduled.
China "hopes that safe and free passage through the strait will be restored as soon as possible," Lin added.
British Prime Minster Keir Starmer said the agreement between the US and Iran was very significant, and that he had discussed it with President Donald Trump on Saturday.
"Obviously, nothing is guaranteed, but it is, I think, a significant breakthrough, a very significant breakthrough. Hopefully, something which as we work together we can turn into that enduring peace that we all want to see," Starmer told a press conference.
In Tokyo, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Monday said Japan's welcomes the deal toward ending hostilities and hopes for steady implementation of the agreement, including the actual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for international vessels.
Posting on X, Takaichi said Japan "strongly hopes" that "free and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz will be ensured in practice, and that a final agreement on Iran's nuclear issue and other matters will be reached as soon as possible."
The EU's top officials also welcomed the deal, saying Europe was ready to contribute to "a lasting peace."
"I look forward to an end to this costly war and to the full restoration of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz," Antonio Costa, the president of the European Council representing member states, wrote on X.
"Weapons must now fall silent," Costa urged, saying the "European Union is ready to contribute to advancing a comprehensive strategy for lasting peace across the Middle East."
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen stressed the "priority now is its swift and full implementation" - calling on "all parties to respect Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity and implement a genuine ceasefire."
Saudi Arabia welcomed the agreement between Washington and Tehran to halt military operations and begin detailed negotiations over a 60-day period aimed at reaching a permanent settlement.
The United Arab Emirates called for full implementation of the preliminary US-Iran deal, including an immediate halt to hostilities and guarantees of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, the foreign ministry said on Monday.
Kuwait also welcomed the deal, which includes an immediate and permanent cessation of military operations and guarantees freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Authorities in southern Lebanon warned people displaced by three months of war between Israel and Hezbollah against rushing home on Monday despite a US-Iran deal to end the wider conflict, as Israel said it would not withdraw troops from the south.
The warning comes as Lebanon has not been informed of details of the US-Iran agreement, an official source told AFP on Monday.
"Lebanon was not informed of the terms of the agreement or the time of the ceasefire," the source said on condition of anonymity.
The Lebanese army on Monday called on residents of south Lebanon to slow down before moving back to border towns.