Following the agreement between the US and Iran on a ceasefire and the safe transit of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, European leaders and Iranian opposition groups have welcomed what they see as a potential step toward ending the conflict.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the development in the conflict, framing it as a first step rather than a resolution.
“I welcome the two-week ceasefire the US and Iran agreed last night. It brings much-needed de-escalation. I thank Pakistan for its mediation. Now it is crucial that negotiations for an enduring solution to this conflict continue,” she said on X.
Iran’s opposition coalition, while backing the immediate halt in fighting, stressed that the underlying issues driving conflict remain unresolved.
The Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), in a statement shared with Brussels Signal, expressed support for the truce, while stressing that it should lead to a broader political outcome.
“Lasting peace can only be achieved through the overthrow of the terrorist and warmongering dictatorship of the absolute clerical rule and the establishment of a democratic republic,” said NCRI Secretary General, Maryam Rajavi today.
She also expressed hope that the 15-day ceasefire “will lead to the end of the war and pave the way for peace and freedom”.
The deal comes after US President Donald Trump had warned that an “entire civilisation would die” if no agreement was reached.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez emphasised that while ceasefires are inherently positive, they must not obscure the consequences of the conflict.
“Ceasefires are always good news — especially if they lead to a just and lasting peace. But temporary relief must not make us forget the chaos, the destruction, and the lives lost,” he said, adding that governments should not “applaud those who set the world on fire just because they show up with a bucket”.
Meanwhile, Iran has claimed victory and signalled that upcoming talks in Islamabad, scheduled for April 10, do not guarantee a definitive end to hostilities.
On the ground, there are early signs of de-escalation.
Iraq announced the reopening of its airspace and all airports, citing improved security conditions.
The country’s Civil Aviation Authority said the decision followed “the stabilisation of the situation and the return to normalcy”.
