The leaders of the G7 countries see the framework agreement between the United States and Iran as a “historic opportunity” to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons, according to a statement released early on Wednesday.

The deal between Washington and Tehran, which is due to be signed on Friday, could bring “peace and security for all in the region,” the heads of the Group of Seven (G7) said in a joint statement.

“We recognize the breakthrough and the opportunity that currently exist in the Middle East. We welcome the announcement of a deal between the United States and Iran, secured under the strong leadership of President Trump, with the support of mediating countries, which provides an historic opportunity to prevent Iran from acquiring any nuclear weapon and tackling the threats related to its regional and ballistic activities. We support and are ready to contribute to its implementation. We reaffirm that the right of transit passage without restrictions or tolls is the bedrock of international trade. We agree that the multinational, independent, and defensive initiative led by France and the UK can play an important role to facilitate the resumption of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz by protecting merchant vessels, reassuring commercial shipping operators, and supporting verification that all mines are removed. We strongly support a robust and comprehensive diplomatic follow-on agreement to the Memorandum of Understanding secured by President Trump that can bring peace and security for all in the region. We underline the need for the negotiation to this end to address the threats posed by Iran in the region and beyond and ensure that they never obtain a nuclear weapon. We agree that such a negotiation would benefit from the contributions from relevant regional and international partners, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). We reaffirm that Iran will never obtain a nuclear weapon. In Lebanon, we support, through an immediate robust ceasefire, the Lebanese leadership’s efforts to achieve the disarmament of Hezbollah and the monopoly of arms, and to protect Lebanon’s territorial integrity and sovereignty with the appropriate international security guarantees. In Gaza, we will accelerate humanitarian and reconstruction efforts and the swift implementation of relevant political and security measures. We call for ending violence in the West Bank. We commit to accelerate the diversification of energy supply routes in order to reduce global vulnerability to the Strait of Hormuz and to increase our energy stocks. We welcome the potential for Canada to deliver significant additional capacity to global markets in coming years.”

The leaders also expressed support for Ukraine.

“We, the Leaders of the G7, stand united in our unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. We reaffirm our solidarity with the Ukrainian population suffering from attacks on their critical infrastructure and cultural heritage. We commend Ukraine for its resilience and progress on the battlefield in recent months and emphasize there is now a new momentum. To support and accelerate this new momentum, we agree to increase the delivery of air defence capacities, additional systems and interceptors, and long-range capabilities. We are also ready to consider extending to Ukraine the benefit of licenses to allow for an increase in Ukraine’s military production. We stress the importance of energy resilience, on the basis of the needs and priorities expressed by Ukrainian authorities. We agree to provide further support to get the country through next winter. We commit to increase the pressure on the Russian war economy. In this context, we will strengthen our sanctions, including those on the oil and gas sectors. We consider this the right moment to proceed with additional measures, as President Trump has delivered a deal that we support in reopening the Strait of Hormuz,” the G7 leaders said.

The statement also touched upon the Indo-Pacific region, namely North Korea.

“We highlight the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law. We reaffirm our opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo, in particular by force or coercion, in the East and South China Seas and across the Taiwan Strait, which should only be resolved peacefully through dialogue. We express deep concern about North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs and reaffirm our commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions. We urge North Korea to resolve the abductions issue immediately. We reiterate the need to jointly address North Korea’s cryptocurrency thefts and cybercrimes. We welcome the Global Convergence for Growth Summit convened by President Macron on June 11th 2026, with the participation of China. We reaffirm our common interest in converging with other large economies on the causes of large and persistent global imbalances and on the need to address them. We will continue these efforts within the G20 under the United States’ host year and in other relevant fora.”

A large-scale search operation involving hundreds of rescuers and volunteers in Lori Province has resulted in the recovery of the body of one of two sisters who went missing in Vanadzor on June 15, authorities said, as efforts continue to locate the second child.

The body of Nare Martirosyan, 7, was found in the Pambak River at around 9:30 on June 17, some 500 meters from where she allegedly fell into the river, the Rescue Service reported.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs said in a statement earlier on June 16 that the missing children are sisters aged 7 and 13.

One emergency call reported that a child had been seen in the nearby river.

The ministry, in a statement on June 16, detailed: “The first emergency call was received on June 15 at 14:45. A citizen reported seeing a child in the Pambak River. Later the same day, at 17:05, another citizen called and reported that the two sisters, aged 7 and 13, had left an address on Narekatsi Street in Vanadzor and had not reached their intended destination.”

The Rescue Service Director and Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Aram Ghazaryan, is personally coordinating the search efforts on site. Multiple first responders, including rescuers, police officers, volunteers, and divers, as well as special equipment such as UAVs, have been deployed.

Russian authorities have claimed that the ban imposed on a variety of Armenian goods is not politically motivated and have insisted that the reason is phytosanitary violations detected in the products.

Agricultural watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor director Sergey Dankvert told Russian state media that the problem allegedly lies in the organization and oversight of production in Armenia.

Dankvert told Rossiyskaya Gazeta that in Armenia there are many small farming businesses that export their products. “However, between production and delivery, there is effectively no internal system of control and cooperation.”

“In one truck, thousands of bundles of greens are collected, after which regulatory bodies must inspect this huge volume of goods. This is physically impossible,” he said.

Dankvert emphasized that product control should take place directly at the production stage. He added that for the system to work effectively, cooperation, production oversight, as well as responsibility from producer unions are necessary.

“This is what is missing today. Therefore, the reasons for restrictions lie in product quality and safety, not politics,” Dankvert said.

Ahead of the parliamentary elections held on June 7, Russia imposed restrictions and bans on the import of numerous Armenian goods, which remain in effect today. The move prompted exporters to look for new markets, including in the EU. The EU has since announced support measures. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, following a phone call with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, announced immediate financial assistance of more than €50 million, along with other support measures to facilitate trade, including steps to expand export opportunities for Armenian goods.

Russia has cited phytosanitary violations as the reason for the ban, which has been widely viewed by the EU as “economic coercion.”

The EU is preparing emergency trade relief for Armenia to help offset Russian import restrictions, Financial Times reported citing sources.

The European Commission is drawing up so-called autonomous trade measures that would lower tariffs on Armenian food and agricultural exports, according to four people briefed on the plans.

“Now is the time for us to step up and support them, and show that we can be a dependable partner,” one of the people told the FT.  “They need friends . . . and we need to protect our neighbourhood.”

The measures, which require approval from a majority of member states and the European parliament, would cover most of the roughly 20 product categories targeted by the Russian bans, worth about €420mn a year, according to two of the people.

Brussels is concerned that Moscow could intensify its trade pressure on Armenia, they added. The proposals could be put forward within weeks, according to two other people. EU foreign ministers discussed the matter with Armenia’s chief diplomat in Luxembourg on Monday, the officials said.

EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos is also set to travel to Armenia early next month.

“The Commission will propose autonomous trade measures to help more Armenian businesses access new market opportunities in the EU and support the country’s economy where it has been most affected,” commission spokesperson Olof Gill told the FT.

Two of the officials said that brandy, one of Armenia’s core exports, posed some issues for EU officials drawing up the support measures, given the importance of cognac production for France. There is also the difficulty of moving perishable goods from Armenia through Türkiye or Georgia.

Ahead of the parliamentary elections held on June 7, Russia imposed restrictions and bans on the import of numerous Armenian goods, which remain in effect today. The move prompted exporters to look for new markets, including in the EU. The EU has since announced support measures. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, following a phone call with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, announced immediate financial assistance of more than €50 million, along with other support measures to facilitate trade, including steps to expand export opportunities for Armenian goods.

Russia has cited phytosanitary violations as the reason for the ban, which has been widely viewed by the EU as “economic coercion.”

Armenia is set to continue its territorial administration reform with a new round of municipal consolidation, under which the number of communities will be reduced from 70 to 64, aiming to strengthen local governance and manage resources more effectively.

Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Davit Khudatyan briefed lawmakers on proposed amendments to the Law on the Administrative-Territorial Division.

The minister said the bill proposes continuing the process of community consolidation in three provinces: Lori, Syunik, and Vayots Dzor.

“In Lori Province, it is proposed to form the consolidated community of Stepanavan, which will include the current communities of Stepanavan, Gyulagarak, and Lori Berd, with a total of 20 settlements included in their composition,” Khudatyan said.

In Syunik, it is proposed to form the consolidated community of Goris, consisting of the current Goris, Tegh, and Tatev communities. The newly formed community will include a total of 28 settlements.

In Vayots Dzor, it is planned to form the consolidated community of Yeghegnadzor, which will include the communities of Yeghegnadzor, Areni, and Yeghegis, with a total of 32 settlements.

For the mentioned communities, this is already the second phase of consolidation, as previously consolidated communities are being merged into even larger units.

The minister said that as a result of the previous seven phases of administrative-territorial reforms, the number of communities in Armenia has been reduced to 70, of which 63 are consolidated communities.

“The capital Yerevan, Gyumri, and five communities populated by national minorities have not been merged. As a result of the implementation of the 8th phase of community consolidation, the number of communities will become 64, of which 57 will be consolidated communities,” the minister noted.

The draft also clarifies the procedure for scheduling council elections in merging communities and the transfer of powers of local self-government bodies. According to this regulation, on the 5th day after the publication of election results, the powers of the current local self-government bodies will cease, and on the same day the new council will assume its powers.

Khudatyan highlighted that the community consolidation process is not merely a mechanical merger.

“It is first and foremost a consolidation of professional and financial potential, with the aim of addressing larger issues in larger community units,” said the Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure.

He said that evidence of the effectiveness of this approach includes tens of billions of drams worth of programs implemented through government–community co-financing, which have significantly changed the landscape of communities.

Khudatyan said the proposed round will not be the final stage in the process.

“After some time, we will again come forward with new community consolidations and present them to the parliament, with the expectation of your approval,” the minister said.

Authorities announced new arrests on Wednesday amid an ongoing criminal investigation into alleged vote-buying involving the Prosperous Armenia party.

The Anti-Corruption Committee said in a press release that it obtained evidence that Prosperous Armenia party representatives bribed several voters in Gogaran, Spitak, Lori Province, and nearby towns in exchange for voting for their party on June 7 and recruiting other supporters.

The law enforcement agency did not specify how many suspects were arrested.

Minister Delegate to the French Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs, Alice Rufo, visited the Armenian pavilion at the Eurosatory 2026 international defense and security exhibition in Paris.

Armenia’s Minister of High-Tech Industry, Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, who was also present, shared photos of Rufo viewing Armenian defense technologies.

Minister Delegate Alice Rufo became acquainted with the products presented by Armenian defense industry companies, as well as with the country’s production and research potential.

The delegation led by the Chairman of the State Revenue Committee of Armenia, Eduard Hakobyan, is participating in the 30th General Assembly of the Intra-European Organization of Tax Administrations (IOTA) in Budapest, where Armenia was elected for the first time as a member of the organization’s Executive Council.

The election took place during the administrative session held within the framework of the conference, which reviewed and summarized IOTA’s activities for 2025 and approved the budget and work program for 2027, the State Revenue Committee said in a press release.

“This important achievement will enable Armenia’s tax administration to take a more active role in the organization’s strategic decision-making process, contribute to the deepening of cooperation between member countries, and promote the introduction of international best practices,” the statement released by the SRC said, referring to Armenia’s election to the Executive Council.

Within the framework of the 30th General Assembly, a panel discussion was also organized on current and future challenges facing tax authorities.

Heads of tax administrations of IOTA member countries participated in the discussion. During the panel, Hakobyan presented his vision of the role and mission of IOTA in the international tax system, as well as his views on its further strengthening, strategic direction, and priorities.