Lithuanian president joins European leaders in welcoming US-Iran deal

VILNIUS - Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda joined leaders from Britain, France, Germany and Italy in welcoming a memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran, the president’s office said on Monday.

In a joint statement, the leaders commended the US, the Iranian government and mediators including Pakistan and Qatar for what they described as a diplomatic breakthrough. The agreement is expected to contribute to stability in the Middle East and to the stabilisation of the global economy.

European heads of state also stressed the need to immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz to free navigation and expressed readiness to contribute to the security of commercial shipping and demining operations.

The statement said Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons and expressed a commitment to cooperate with the US, Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).