Trump to Discuss Strait of Hormuz Demining at G7 Amid Iran Peace Efforts

U.S. President Donald Trump is slated to discuss the removal of mines from the Strait of Hormuz with allied nations during the Group of Seven (G7) summit, which commences Monday in France. A senior U.S. administration official confirmed this on Saturday, noting that mediators have indicated an agreement to end the war is close.

Britain and France, both G7 member states, have shown interest in supporting the demining of the crucial waterway once a conflict pause is in effect. The official, speaking anonymously, also stated that President Trump intends to hold separate meetings with the leaders of Egypt, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates on the sidelines of the summit to address efforts to de-escalate the Iran war.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that a deal to end the war was "closer than ever before" and anticipated its finalization within 24 hours. Pakistan is preparing for the electronic signing of the agreement, to be followed by technical-level talks the following week. Sharif thanked the United States, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and regional partners for their commitment during negotiations.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, offered a cautious outlook, stating that while an agreement might not materialize immediately, its possibility in the "coming days cannot be ruled out." Baghaei clarified that the Islamabad memorandum under discussion is focused solely on ending the war and explicitly excludes discussion of the nuclear issue at this stage. Separately, three regional officials, who requested anonymity, anticipate a signing ceremony in the coming days, pending approval from Washington and Tehran.

This apparent breakthrough follows recent exchanges of fire between Iran, the U.S., and Israel, which had threatened to undermine an existing ceasefire. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on social media that an agreement "has never been closer," a sentiment echoed by President Trump, who shared Araghchi's post. The conflict has significantly impacted the Middle East, with Iran's actions in the Strait of Hormuz disrupting oil and natural gas shipments, met by a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports. A ceasefire has been in place since April 7.

In other news, Iran’s state-run television reported Saturday that funeral ceremonies for former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei are scheduled for July, specifically between July 4 and 9 during Muharram. Khamenei was killed in the initial attack of the war, launched by Israel and the United States in late February, and is succeeded by his son, Mojtaba.

(Source: Fortune)