G7 leaders meet in France with Iran and Ukraine high on agenda

Leaders of the G7 are expected to focus on the United States deal with Iran and the Russian war on Ukraine at their meeting in France, with US President Donald Trump likely to be urged to quickly finalise the agreement to end the conflict in the Middle East.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who is hosting the summit in Evian-les-Bains near the Swiss border, said the priority was to ensure that there is a “solid, serious agreement that is finalised”.

He said Tuesday’s working lunch would focus on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, including a possible Franco-British-led maritime mission, and on identifying alternative energy routes that bypass the waterway.

Trump has said the Strait of Hormuz would be “completely open” on Friday, which is when a formal agreement will be signed in Geneva.

The agreement, which was digitally signed on Monday, is expected to open a 60-day window to allow for complex negotiations to take place, which would include Iran’s highly enriched uranium and the lifting of sanctions.

The G7 comprises the US, France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the European Union.

Leaders from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Egypt will also attend Tuesday’s talks but are not expected to engage in detailed discussions on Iran’s nuclear programme, diplomats told the Reuters news agency.

Trump arrived in France on Monday evening, buoyed after Washington and Tehran agreed on a preliminary deal to end the wider conflict, with a formal signing targeted for Friday.