UMVA has learned that high-stakes negotiations between the US and Iran are set to continue in Switzerland, with a focus on critical issues such as the Strait of Hormuz, a ceasefire in Lebanon, and Iran's nuclear program.
The talks, which began on Sunday, brought together US Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and Iranian Speaker of the Parliament Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf. The discussions are aimed at clarifying confusing messaging from Iran and building deconfliction mechanisms to ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains fully open.
A Senior US Diplomat revealed that the talks had been productive, with progress made on deconfliction mechanisms and enforcing the ceasefire in southern Lebanon. The diplomat emphasized that the discussions had been robust and covered all elements of the nuclear deal, with a plan to continue working through the issues and using the current talks as a starting point for ongoing technical discussions.
Qatari Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani shared a photo with Vance, expressing his optimism about the joint work, saying "From Lucerne, the efforts and joint work continue." The mediating countries, Qatar and Pakistan, also released a statement confirming that the first session of high-level talks had concluded, with encouraging progress made and a mechanism for further technical talks established.
The parties have agreed to establish a High-Level Committee to provide political oversight on the mediation, with chief negotiators reporting regularly to the committee and leading working groups focused on nuclear, sanctions, and monitoring and dispute resolution. A roadmap towards reaching a final deal within 60 days has been agreed upon, with a communication line between the parties formed to avoid incidents and miscommunication.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi described the Lebanon ceasefire as the "1st real test" and expressed his appreciation for the tireless Pakistani and Qatari mediation, which has delivered major progress, including the waiver of oil and petrochemical exports, the lifting of the blockade, and the release of frozen assets.
Earlier in the day, reports emerged that the Iranian delegation had left the negotiation venue in protest over US President Trump's threats. However, a diplomat present at the negotiations denied the story, confirming that the Iranian delegation was still present and talks were ongoing.
The Senior US Diplomat refuted claims of a walkout, saying that the Iranians were still engaged in discussions, despite Trump's threats. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that Iran's armed forces were ready to respond to any threats, saying "They had better be careful with their statements, our armed forces are ready to respond in another way."
