Europe breathed a cautious sigh of relief after US President Donald Trump agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, halting missile strikes in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Politico reports.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hailed the agreement as a "much-needed de-escalation", thanked Pakistan for its mediation and called for continued talks on a "durable solution".
"The US-Iran ceasefire agreement is a step back from the brink", EU foreign policy chief Kaya also said Callas. She called for efforts to "restart shipping" and turn the ceasefire into a lasting deal.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called it a "moment of relief". He will visit the Middle East on Monday to work with Gulf partners to permanently reopen the strait.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the goal now was "a lasting end to the war".
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez struck a more critical note, saying a ceasefire "is always good news" - especially if it leads to "a just and lasting peace". He warned, however, that "momentary relief" cannot erase the "chaos, destruction and lives lost", stressing that Spain "will not applaud those who set the world on fire just because they show up with a bucket of water".
The ceasefire agreement, reached after Trump's initial warning that "an entire civilization will die" if Iran refuses to make a deal, is contingent on Tehran allowing safe passage through the key Strait of Hormuz and making progress on a 10-point framework presented by his government.
"A great day for world peace!", Trump said on Truth Social earlier today. He pledged US support to restore shipping flows and declared a potential "Golden Age of the Middle East".
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would halt "defensive operations" and coordinate with its armed forces to partially open the Strait of Hormuz, with conditions such as tariffs and the withdrawal of US troops. He added that Washington had accepted the "general framework" of his plan - a more tentative interpretation than Trump's claims of a full opening.
The European relief comes after days of alarm in the continent's capitals.
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crocetto warned yesterday that "madness seems to have gripped the world," while European Council President Antonio Costa said that strikes on civilian infrastructure could be considered war crimes and that any widening of the conflict would hurt civilians the most.
The ceasefire exposes Europe's limited role. While Pakistan helped broker the deal, EU governments struggled to shape events even as the conflict threatened global energy flows.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte heads to Washington today to face a major stress test for the alliance as Trump’s broader demands continue to rattle Europe.
For now, Europe is watching — and hoping the pause will last.