New Delhi, Jun 22: The first round of negotiations between the United States and Iran aimed at securing a comprehensive agreement to end the ongoing conflict concluded with “encouraging progress”, mediators Qatar and Pakistan said on Monday, according to a BBC report.
In a joint statement issued after the talks held in Switzerland, the two mediating countries said both sides had agreed on a “roadmap towards reaching a final deal within 60 days”.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi described the outcome as “major progress” and said the negotiations had moved closer to ending hostilities in Lebanon, one of the key flashpoints linked to the wider regional conflict.
The talks follow a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed last week between Washington and Tehran that envisages ending fighting on “all fronts”, reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, and initiating reconstruction efforts in Iran.
“Pakistani and Qatari mediation has delivered major progress to end Lebanon War,” Araghchi said in a social media post. He added that the understanding includes waivers on oil and petrochemical exports, the lifting of a blockade, release of some frozen Iranian assets and the launch of a major reconstruction and development programme.
Iranian media reported that the country’s lead negotiators departed Switzerland after the first round, while technical-level discussions are expected to continue.
The mediators said a dedicated communication channel had been established to prevent misunderstandings and ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy route.
The statement also announced the creation of a “de-confliction cell” involving the United States, Iran and Lebanon, with Qatar and Pakistan serving as facilitators. The mechanism is intended to help bring military operations in Lebanon to an end.
Araghchi said the effectiveness of the Lebanon de-confliction arrangement would be the first real test of the broader agreement.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun held consultations with senior US and Qatari officials on Monday regarding the initiative and wider efforts to consolidate a ceasefire in Lebanon, according to his office.
The diplomatic push comes despite continuing violence on the ground. Since the signing of the MoU, clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces in southern Lebanon have intensified, while Israeli air strikes have reportedly killed dozens of Lebanese civilians, including women and children. A new ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was declared on Friday. However, continued hostilities prompted Iran to announce on Saturday that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz. Maritime tracking data later indicated that commercial shipping traffic through the waterway had continued.
Hezbollah said it remained committed to the ceasefire but warned it would resist any attempt by Israel to expand its presence in southern Lebanon. The group reported clashes with Israeli troops near the Ali al-Taher hill overlooking the southern city of Nabatieh.
Israel’s military chief said the hill concealed a significant Hezbollah underground military complex and remained a primary operational target.
Although reports suggested a decline in fighting on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maintained that Israeli forces would remain in southern Lebanon for as long as necessary to safeguard northern Israel.
Ahead of the Swiss talks, US Vice-President JD Vance, who led the American delegation, said President Donald Trump had instructed negotiators to seek a fresh start in relations with Tehran. Vance said Washington would be prepared to fundamentally reshape ties with Iran if its leadership abandoned what he described as regional destabilisation and long-term nuclear weapons ambitions. Tehran has consistently maintained that its nuclear programme is intended solely for peaceful purposes.
Under the preliminary agreement reached last week, Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and natural gas supplies pass. The United States, in turn, agreed to lift restrictions affecting shipping to and from Iranian ports. The framework also envisages a $300 billion reconstruction package for Iran and the removal of US sanctions. However, negotiators have yet to resolve issues surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme, which remain central to any final settlement.
According to BBC, maritime tracking data on Sunday showed vessels continuing to transit the Strait of Hormuz despite Iranian claims that the waterway had been closed.
The wider conflict has exacted a heavy toll. Lebanese health authorities say at least 4106 people have been killed in Lebanon since early March, though official figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Israeli authorities say 36 soldiers and four civilians have been killed in cross-border fighting.
Israel has maintained that its campaign against Hezbollah is separate from its conflict with Iran, which it launched alongside the United States on February 28. Lebanon became directly involved shortly afterwards when Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel following a strike that reportedly killed Iran’s supreme leader. Israel responded with an extensive military campaign across Lebanon and continues to hold territory in the country’s south.
