Trump visits European leaders after Iran peace deal announcement

By Andrew Rice
The Center Square

President Donald Trump is visiting European and allied leaders he repeatedly criticized a day after he announced the United States and Iran are set to sign a peace deal to end conflict in the region and allow ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

“With the opening of the Strait upon signing of the Deal on Friday, for purposes of mine removal, oil will flow on both ends again for the Region, and the World!” Trump wrote on social media.

Specific details of the deal have not been released to the public. Shebaz Sharif, prime minister of Pakistan, said a deal would be signed on Friday in Switzerland. Pakistan has helped mediate peace talks between the U.S. and Iran.

It is unclear whether an end to Iran’s nuclear program – one of Trump’s stated goals at the beginning of the conflict – will be part of the peace deal between the two nations.

After the peace deal announcement, Trump headed to France for the G7 leader’s summit. Throughout the U.S. conflict with Iran, the president has remained critical of other G7 nations for not aiding in the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump criticized French President Emmanuel Macron and United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer for not aiding in securing access through the Strait of Hormuz.

“You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us,” Trump wrote on social media in March.

The leaders of Canada, France, the U.K., Germany and Italy issued a joint statement celebrating the announcement of a peace deal. The leaders said they would work to support the deal’s implementation.

“The urgent re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz with unconditional and unrestricted freedom of navigation is essential,” the leaders wrote in a statement.

“We are committed to playing our part to achieve this – in accordance with our respective constitutional requirements – including through a strictly defensive and independent mission to reassure commercial shipping and conduct mine clearance operations,” they continued.

Oil prices dropped nearly 13% from the middle of last week after Trump’s announcement of a peace deal and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Prices of Brent crude were around $83 per barrel on Monday and $80 per barrel for West Texas Intermediate, two standards for prices around the world.

During the conflict, oil prices shot up to as much as $126 per barrel. It could take several months for oil prices to return to expected levels.

“Congratulations to all!” Trump wrote. “[I] authorize the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade. Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!”