Qatar and Pakistan hailed “encouraging progress” after the first round of US–Iran negotiations aimed at ending the Lebanon war produced a tentative roadmap toward a final deal within 60 days.
In a joint statement early Monday, the two mediators said a High-Level Committee agreed on steps including a communication line to reduce incidents and ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed last week also envisions reopening the strait, waiving certain oil and petrochemical export restrictions, releasing some frozen assets, and launching a major reconstruction and development plan for Iran.
Iran’s foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi described the talks as “major progress” toward ending the conflict in Lebanon. Iranian negotiators left Switzerland after initial talks in Lucerne; technical discussions are expected to continue. The mediators said a “de-confliction cell” involving the US, Iran and Lebanon facilitated by Qatar and Pakistan will be created to help end military operations in southern Lebanon.
Fighting has fluctuated since the MoU, with renewed clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces and Israeli air strikes that Lebanon’s health ministry says have killed dozens of civilians. A new ceasefire was declared on Friday, but tensions remained high: Iran briefly claimed to have shut the Strait of Hormuz, though ship-tracking data showed vessels continuing to transit the waterway.
Political rhetoric has been sharp. As talks opened, former US President Donald Trump warned Iran to restrain its “proxies in Lebanon” and threatened strong action, while Iran’s lead negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf pushed back against threats. US lead negotiator Vice-President J.D. Vance said Washington is prepared to “fundamentally transform” relations with Iran if Tehran abandons regional destabilization and long-term nuclear ambitions; Iran maintains its nuclear program is peaceful.
Key elements of the initial agreement include reopening the Strait of Hormuz, lifting a US naval blockade on ships to and from Iranian ports, and a proposed $300 billion reconstruction package paired with the US terminating “all types of sanctions.” The critical issue of Iran’s nuclear program remains unresolved and will be addressed in the next phase of talks.
