EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France/DUBAI, JUne 17 (Agencies): Leaders of the G7 countries demanded a ceasefire in Lebanon on Wednesday and said they will diversify energy supply routes to reduce dependence on the Strait of Hormuz in response to the war in Iran, as they welcomed an interim deal to end the conflict.
The US-Iran agreement is expected to launch negotiations toward a final settlement to end the war, which has killed more than 7,000 people, mostly in Iran and Lebanon.
"We underline the need for the negotiation … to address the threats posed by Iran in the region and beyond and ensure that they never obtain a nuclear weapon," the leaders said in a statement.
The summit gave US President Donald Trump a chance to present his deal with Iran to major allies Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan.
They mostly share Washington's concerns about Iran's nuclear program and other issues, but never endorsed his decision to go to war and worry that Tehran gained leverage by withstanding the superpower onslaught and asserting control over the strait.
The leaders said they were ready to contribute to the implementation of the accord, with a coalition led by Britain and France set to help secure shipping once the Strait of Hormuz reopens as expected on Friday.
The memorandum of understanding signed by Washington and Tehran this week, though yet to be made public, extends a ceasefire announced in April by another 60 days to allow the warring countries to negotiate a permanent truce.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces have carried out new strikes in southern Lebanon, state media say, despite renewed criticism from US President Donald Trump of Israel's actions in the country.
On Wednesday, Israeli jets struck the Nabatieh al-Fawqa area and the outskirts of neighbouring Kfar Tebnit, Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported. The Israeli military has not yet commented, but has previously said it is targeting the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah.
The text of a deal between the US and Iran to end the war has not been released, but mediator Pakistan says it includes Lebanon.
On Tuesday, Trump said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu needed "to be more responsible with respect to Lebanon".
Speaking at the G7 summit in France, he also said that Israel had been fighting Hezbollah for "too long and too many people are being killed".
Both Israel and Hezbollah have carried out attacks against each other since the US-Iran agreement was announced on Sunday night.
Earlier that day, an Israeli air strike on Beirut in response to cross-border rocket attack by Hezbollah had put pressure on attempts to finalise the deal.
Trump told the G7 that he had a "great relationship" with Netanyahu but said he "didn't like that he did an attack... that was too much".
The G7 summit of world powers in France is being chaired by President Emmanuel Macron as host but on Wednesday his guest US President Donald Trump left no doubt over who he believed was in charge.
"I'm the boss," Trump said as he strode in to the morning session of the last day of the three-day G7 summit, with the other leaders already in their seats.
Amid laughter, Macron appeared to take the comment with good humour. "How are you?" the French president asked.
"Good, thank you," replied Trump, a tycoon before becoming president who famously hosted the TV show "The Apprentice" with its catchphrase "You're fired!", as he finally took his seat.
Fresh from clinching an accord to end the war with Iran and celebrating his 80th birthday, Trump's presence has dominated the summit in the spa town of Evian on Lake Geneva.
European G7 nations and the United States are to grant licences for Ukraine-based companies to produce long-range missiles and air defence systems, a diplomatic source said Wednesday, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz confirming the move.
The announcement comes during a three-day G7 meeting in the French town of Evian of the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, who pledged to intensify pressure on Russia to end more than four years of war against Ukraine.
Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney on Wednesday said a US-Iran deal to end the Middle East war could be a "game changer" in the region and beyond.
There is "a likelihood that this memorandum of understanding agreement could be a game changer", Carney told reporters on the third day of a G7 leaders' meeting in the French town of Evian.
He pointed to encouraging discussions, which included US President Donald Trump, on Ukraine and Lebanon at the summit.
The Canadian premier said he noted a US "change in tone with respect to Ukraine" as Kyiv seeks to end more than four years of conflict following Russia's invasion.
This included "a more realistic-in our view-expectation of where this war was going to go, and the position against Russia, the tightening of sanctions against Russia, the ability to provide additional defensive support for Ukraine".
G7 leaders demand ceasefire in Lebanon, welcome Iran deal
Israel launches fresh strikes on Lebanon despite Trump criticism
FE Team | Published: June 17, 2026 22:11:31
Swiss's President wife Caroline Merotto, Japan's Prime minister Sanae Takaichi, Swiss President Guy Parmelin, Brazil's First Lady Rosangela "Janja" da Silva, Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, South Korea's President Lee Jae-myung, France's President Emmanuel Macron, South Korea's First Lady Kim Hea Kyung, French President's wife Brigitte Macron, British Prime Minister's wife Victoria Starmer, US President Donald Trump, Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney, Canadian Prime Minister's wife Diana Carney, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor's wife Charlotte Merz, European Commission President's husband Heiko von der Leyen and Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz pose during a gala dinner as part of the G7 summit, in Evian, eastern France, on Wednesday. — AFP
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