The leaders of four European countries have announced that they are prepared to lift sanctions related to Iran’s nuclear program if Tehran takes clear and verifiable steps regarding its nuclear activities.
On Monday, the Élysée Palace published a joint statement by French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The statement said that European countries are willing to remove relevant sanctions in response to transparent and verifiable measures taken by Iran concerning its nuclear program.
The four leaders also emphasized their commitment to preserving the current diplomatic process and pledged to work together toward achieving a durable and long-term agreement on the issue.
“Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon,” the statement said. The leaders added that they are prepared to cooperate with the United States, Iran, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to achieve this objective.
The European leaders also stressed the need for the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the guarantee of full and unrestricted freedom of navigation through the strategically important waterway. They stated that they would contribute, through a fully defensive and independent mission, to ensuring the security of commercial shipping and conducting mine-clearing operations.
The statement comes as the United Kingdom and France have spent the past two months seeking to establish the groundwork for an international coalition aimed at safeguarding commercial maritime traffic in the international waters of the Middle East, including the Strait of Hormuz.
At the same time, the United Kingdom and France have deployed their aircraft carriers to the region, although neither country has so far participated in any military operations.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
