First round of US-Iran talks end with ‘encouraging progress’, mediators say

BBC:

The first round of negotiations between the US and Iran to reach a final deal to end the war has concluded with “encouraging progress”, mediators Qatar and Pakistan say.

The talks began on Sunday in Switzerland, after last week’s initial agreement between the two countries.

In a joint statement on Monday, Qatar and Pakistan said that a “High Level Committee” had agreed to “a roadmap towards reaching a final deal within 60 days”. Technical talks will continue throughout the week.

Earlier, a US diplomat involved in negotiations said discussions were focused on “clarifying some of the confusing messaging from Iran” on the re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz and enforcing the ceasefire in Lebanon.

The mediators’ joint statement said that a “communication line” had been formed “to avoid incidents and miscommunication with the aim of safe passage for commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz”.

Discussions also focused on “elements” of a nuclear deal, the US diplomat said, adding that both delegations, who were meeting in the Swiss city Lucerne, would use “today’s work as a starting point for ongoing technical talks going forward”.

Last week’s initial agreement includes a commitment to reach a final deal within 60 days, as well as an end to fighting on “all fronts” – including in Lebanon – and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

However, there has since been an upsurge in fighting between Hezbollah and Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, and Israeli air strikes that the health ministry says have killed dozens of Lebanese including women and children.

That escalation led the US to declare a new ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah on Friday. Continued clashes and air strikes prompted Iran on Saturday to announce it had shut the Strait of Hormuz – though tracking data shows vessels have continued to pass through it.

The joint statement from Qatar and Pakistan said: “The parties agreed on the creation of a deconfliction cell, between the parties, the Lebanese Republic and facilitated by the Mediators, to ensure the adherence of the termination of military operations in Lebanon.”

Earlier, as the talks in Lucerne between the US and Iranian delegations began, Trump posted that Iran “must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble” and threatened to “hit Iran very hard again” if they did not.

Iran’s lead negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf responded by saying: “Don’t they think that if their threats had any effect, they wouldn’t be in this desperate situation today?… No matter how much they talk, it is we who take action.”

On Sunday, fighting was reported to have diminished but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted that the Israeli military would remain in southern Lebanon for as long as is necessary to protect northern Israel.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has rejected any Israeli military presence in southern Lebanon and said Hezbollah would defend itself.

Speaking before the talks at the Swiss resort of Bürgenstock, US lead negotiator Vice-President JD Vance said Trump had asked negotiators to “turn over a new leaf”.

He added that if Iran’s leadership was willing to give up being a “driver of regional instability” and its “nuclear weapons ambitions for the longer term”, then the US “is willing to fundamentally transform our relationship with that country”.

Iran has insisted its nuclear programme is peaceful.

Vance was joined by Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff. Ghaibaf was accompanied by Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Also in Switzerland were Pakistan’s prime minister and army chief and the Qatari prime minister. Pakistan has acted as a mediator throughout the war and hosted a previous round of negotiations between the US and Iran.

Qatar has also mediated and late on Sunday Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani said he welcomed the continuation of US-Iran talks.