G7 summit closes in Évian: US-Iran nuclear deal, unified support for Ukraine, and Italy ready for Hormuz patrols
The 52nd G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains concluded with a US-Iran agreement halting Tehran’s military nuclear programme. Leaders also pledged increased financial and military aid to Ukraine and discussed AI cooperation.
Iran nuclear deal
Leaders of the seven largest democracies welcomed the accord reached between Washington and Tehran on the eve of the summit. Donald Trump told the closing press conference that the 14-point agreement means Iran will never possess a nuclear weapon. The US president described the deal as a significant framework for the entire Middle East. Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni said all participants congratulated Trump on the outcome, which she called an important reference point for the region. Implementation now requires stabilisation of the security environment, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz.
The text of the agreement clearly states that Iran will never have the nuclear weapon.
- G7 summit opens in Évian-les-Bains; leaders welcome US-Iran nuclear accord
- Trump holds bilaterals with Narendra Modi and Giorgia Meloni; Ukraine and AI discussed
- Closing press conference: Trump confirms Iran will never have nukes, G7 pledges more aid to Ukraine
- Meloni announces Italy’s readiness to join Hormuz naval mission; EU reveals contact with Moscow
Solidarity on Ukraine
The G7 reaffirmed "solid and continuous" support for Kyiv. German chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed that every member will increase its financial and military contribution to strengthen Ukraine’s resilience. Meloni stressed that the convergence among leaders was not a given and that the group’s unity on Ukraine sends a strong signal ahead of the upcoming European Council meeting. Trump, after a bilateral with Volodymyr Zelensky, pressed Russia to negotiate, saying both Moscow and Kyiv are paying a very high price.
Both want to do something, but they don’t know how.
Transatlantic ties and EU diplomacy
Meloni described her relationship with Trump as unchanged, dismissing reports of friction. The two leaders held several meetings during the summit, including a final face-to-face at the Royal Hotel. The Italian premier said they immediately resumed discussing next steps without revisiting past disagreements. Meanwhile, European Council president António Costa’s office opened exploratory contacts with the Kremlin to keep communication channels alive. EU officials stressed this is not mediation but a way to protect European interests in view of a potential negotiation.
We are two people with strong characters who defend our national interests. There is no need for us to clarify anything.
Maritime security and Italy’s role
With the Iran deal in place, attention turned to ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Italy, through Meloni, declared its readiness to contribute to a naval mission led by France and the United Kingdom, pending parliamentary authorisation. The premier said the mission would be exclusively defensive and linked to the full stabilisation of the area within sixty days. The G7 also discussed artificial intelligence cooperation and migration policy, with the European Parliament’s vote on new return rules and centres in third countries being noted.
