Winston Peters welcomes ‘good first step’ in tentative US/Iran deal
Monday, 15 June 2026
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters is welcoming the news of a tentative deal between the US and Iran as a “good first step” to peace.
US President Donald Trump has announced that a deal had been reached that would end the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
“Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!” Trump said.
Iranian state media has also reported that a deal had been finalised.
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Peters welcomed the news in a statement.
“This pivotal, constructive deal is a step towards reducing tensions and promoting stability in a region that is critical to global economic security.
“We welcome steps that will enable the safe reopening of this vital maritime route and restore confidence in key supply chains. Dialogue and diplomacy remain the most effective means of resolving long-standing issues.
“This is a good first step and we hope the parties now seize the opportunity to resolve the tensions in the region.”
Labour’s foreign affairs spokesperson Vanushi Walters said she was “cautiously hopeful”.
“It will come as a relief to many across the world and here in New Zealand to see the peace deal concluded. We are cautiously hopefully for an enduring peace. There remain significant issues in terms of the mid to long term stability of the region, including in relation to Iran's nuclear programme and its support for proxies which will no doubt be discussed in the months ahead,” Walters said.
“The impacts of this war will continue to hit New Zealanders in the pocket for some time to come, and the Government simply isn’t doing enough to help address these cost of living pressures.“
The price of Brent crude for August delivery fell by almost US$3 a barrel immediately after the announcement, to trade at just under US$84.
That is still about US$15 up on the price Brent was selling for just before the United States and Israeli joint attacks on Iran on February 28, but well below the peak of US$126 a barrel it reached early on in the conflict.
The NZX top 50 index was trading up 0.9% shortly before 11.30am, and the New Zealand dollar spiked by almost a third of a US cent on word of the peace deal.