Leaders of the Group of Seven nations issued a joint declaration on Wednesday demanding an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon and offering full-throated support for a nascent US-Iran agreement aimed at ending a war that has claimed more than 7,000 lives, predominantly in Iran and Lebanon. Convening in the French lakeside town of Évian-les-Bains, the G7 explicitly called for the disarmament of Hezbollah and an end to the militia’s “monopoly of arms” inside Lebanon, framing the fragile truce as a historic chance to restore Lebanese sovereignty under international security guarantees. The statement also welcomed the interim deal between Washington and Tehran, which is expected to be formally signed in Geneva on Friday.

Viewed from Washington, the accord represents a calculated gamble by President Donald Trump to put the conflict “in the rearview mirror” while offering Iran significant economic concessions, including the toll-free reopening of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. The agreement launches a 60-day negotiation period aimed at a final settlement that would address Iran’s nuclear programme and regional activities. Yet the White House has remained tight-lipped on operational details, fuelling domestic scepticism. Reports indicate the administration has already denied a request by Israel to be party to the deal, a move that underscores the diplomatic tightrope between reassuring a key ally and securing a pact with Tehran.

From the perspective of European capitals and energy markets, the G7’s parallel pledge to diversify supply routes away from the Strait of Hormuz signals a pragmatic hedge. While leaders welcomed the interim accord, they are simultaneously moving to reduce the vulnerability that the war exposed, acknowledging that the waterway’s security cannot be taken for granted. The declaration, issued on the final day of the summit, reflects a consensus that the status quo — a grinding conflict with heavy civilian tolls and disrupted global oil flows — is untenable, even if the path to a durable settlement remains strewn with obstacles.

Analysts in London and the Gulf note that the deal’s success hinges on translating broad G7 backing into enforceable mechanisms, particularly the disarmament of Hezbollah, a prospect that has eluded previous international efforts. The 60-day negotiation window will test Iran’s willingness to curb its nuclear ambitions and regional proxy networks in exchange for sanctions relief and economic incentives. Meanwhile, the exclusion of Israel from the initial framework risks complicating long-term stability, as Jerusalem has long viewed any US-Iran rapprochement without its input as a strategic threat. With the formal signing expected within days, the coming weeks will reveal whether this interim pact can evolve from a temporary truce into a lasting reordering of Middle Eastern security.