US-Iran deal could be ‘game changer’ for Middle East, says Canadian PM
TLE DESK: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Wednesday described the emerging US-Iran agreement aimed at ending the Middle East conflict as a potential “game changer” for the region and beyond.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Evian, France, Carney said there was “a likelihood that this memorandum of understanding agreement could be a game changer,” citing encouraging discussions among world leaders, including US President Donald Trump.
Carney said G7 leaders held extensive talks on Ukraine and Lebanon during the summit and noted what he described as a shift in Washington’s approach toward the war in Ukraine.
According to him, the United States now appears to have a “more realistic” assessment of the conflict and is showing greater willingness to tighten sanctions on Russia while providing additional defensive support to Kyiv.
The Canadian leader also highlighted detailed discussions among G7 members on the situation in Lebanon, where tensions remain high despite diplomatic efforts to stabilise the region.
The proposed US-Iran agreement, which is expected to be formally signed in Switzerland on Friday, would mark the beginning of a 60-day negotiation period aimed at reaching a comprehensive settlement following months of conflict triggered by the February 28 US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
However, optimism surrounding the accord has been tempered by fresh Israeli strikes on alleged Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon.
Acknowledging the challenges ahead, Carney said risks remained and stressed that the agreement would need to be fully implemented to achieve lasting results.
“Yet the fact that so many countries were involved in its development and are invested in its success creates positive knock-on effects,” he said.
In a joint statement issued late Tuesday, G7 leaders welcomed what they described as a diplomatic breakthrough in the Middle East.
The statement said the memorandum of understanding presents “a historic opportunity” to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons while addressing concerns related to its regional activities and ballistic missile programme.
