There are lots of reactions to the Memorandum of Understanding that both the USA and Iran have signed. But few publications think this deal is actually good for the US. Libération, the left-wing French paper, says that even in the late supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei's wildest dreams, he could not have imagined this outcome for a war that Donald Trump himself started. The conservative Wall Street Journal reminds us that Iran held the Strait of Hormuz hostage during the war and that the agreement will "formalise the extortion into a new, worse status quo" and empower Iran to "define the future administration of Hormuz." The Tehran Times uses theopportunity to take pot shots at Iranian opposition groups. It says that US and Israel relied heavily on exiled opposition figures to advance their regime-changing plans. Once the "geopolitical winds shifted, they were discarded without ceremony."
The view from Iran, then, is that it is the one now holding all the power. From Israel, there is a lot of anger. An op-ed from the conservative Times of Israel calls Trump's deal with Iran a "catastrophic capitulation to Iran's aggressors" and one which leaves "Israel vulnerable". It laments Trump's new "reality challenged view of Israel as an ingrate and a warmonger" and Iran as "rational."
Elsewhere, European leaders are meeting in Brussels this Thursday to figure out a way to reduce the trade imbalances with China. One number is key here: €32 billion – that's Europe's trade deficit with China, according to Eurostat. European leaders are meeting to figure out to respond. The EU Observer says the problem is how do Europe's leaders stand up to China without risking a devastating trade war? China, the website says, is like Voldemort, or rather, "He who shall not be named". As proof: when they sit down for dinner, they will not be discussing anti-China trade measures but rather "global macroeconomic imbalances". Call it what you will, the state-run Chinese daily Global Times says that for a long time, Europe saw China as a "receiver of international rules, not a maker of them". The tides have now turned: in rare earths and critical minerals, Europe is the one with structural dependency on China, not the reverse.
In the World Cup 2026, there's good news for England, but not so much for Portugal. The front page of the day goes to The Sun for this inspired headline: "Texas Kane Score Massacre", after the Three Lions won their game against Croatia 4-2. It was not a great day for Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal after its timid 1-1 draw against DR Congo's Leopards. A Bola, Portuguese daily, is clearly concerned about Ronaldo's lack of form.
Finally, Europe is set to suffer through yet another heatwave this week and the question is: what is acceptable attire? The Spanish daily El Pais has an existential article, wondering how many buttons men can undo to keep cool during the heatwave.
What is certain is that going shirtless will be a big no-no here in France this summer. The Times of London reminds us that men will be fined €150 if there is a nipple or two seen in public. To quote the brilliant Times journalist Carol Midgley: "Even when the pecs are so toned and sculpted they look like two taut buttocks gaffer-taped to a sternum, it's still not pleasant eating alongside a rippling torso sheened with sweat that puddles on the plastic chair and emanates a musky pong that says 'I take too much protein powder and have breath that could stun a rhinoceros'".
You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday.
