Araghchi announces major progress in Swiss talks on Iran-US issues

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi announced major progress in talks mediated by Pakistan and Qatar, according to a post on X. The discussions, part of the Lake Lucerne Summit in Switzerland, focused on ending the war in Lebanon, suspending oil and petrochemical sanctions, lifting the naval blockade, and releasing some frozen Iranian assets.

Araghchi wrote: "Tireless Pakistani and Qatari mediation has delivered major progress to end Lebanon War. Oil and petrochem exports are waived, blockade lifted, some frozen assets released, and major reconstruction & development plan launched for Iran." He also stressed the importance of a "Lebanon deconfliction cell" as the first real test.

Qatar and Pakistan issued a joint statement early Monday, noting significant progress in diplomatic efforts between the US and Iran following the first round of high-level talks at the summit. The statement described a "positive and constructive atmosphere" and highlighted the establishment of a mechanism for continued technical discussions.

Key outcomes include the formation of a high-level committee to oversee the political dimensions of the mediation process. This committee will receive regular reports from lead negotiators and supervise specialized working groups on the Iranian nuclear program, sanctions-related issues, and dispute resolution mechanisms to ensure implementation of a memorandum of understanding signed last week.

The high-level committee agreed on a roadmap to reach a final agreement within 60 days, paving the way for a new round of technical talks. Additionally, a communication channel was established to avoid incidents and misunderstandings, ensuring safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.

According to Mehr News Agency, the developments mark a significant step in US-Iran relations, with Pakistan and Qatar playing key mediating roles.