Several European countries and Canada: We welcome the ceasefire, we are ready to contribute to safe navigation in Hormuz

(Patria) - Leaders of several countries and European institutions today issued a joint statement welcoming the ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran and expressing readiness to contribute to safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

"We welcome the two-week ceasefire reached today between the United States and Iran. We thank Pakistan and all involved partners for their assistance in achieving this important agreement," reads the statement from French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Canadian Marc Carney, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Dutch Rob Jetten, Spanish Pedro Sanchez, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President Antonio Costa.

"Our governments will contribute to ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz," the statement says.

Following the reached ceasefire agreement, the focus should now be on negotiations for a swift and lasting end to the war, which can only be achieved through diplomacy, the signatory leaders state.

"We strongly encourage swift progress towards a negotiated solution. This will be key to protecting Iran's civilian population and ensuring security in the region, and can prevent a serious global energy crisis," says the statement, calling on all parties to implement the ceasefire, including in Lebanon.

"We support these diplomatic efforts. To this end, we are in close contact with the United States and other partners," the statement reads.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also expressed hope that the ceasefire would hold and that the war-torn region would return to stability, Reuters reports.

At the same time, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi to reaffirm Ankara's commitment to working towards a lasting peace solution.