Encouraging progress has been recorded in the negotiations between the US and Iran in Switzerland, with both sides speaking of constructive talks following the thriller and threats from US President Donald Trump. As reported, the negotiations concluded constructively overnight, and technical talks will continue throughout this week, according to the mediators, following a slowdown in progress caused by Trump's threats. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that sanctions on his country's oil have been lifted and that a portion of its frozen assets abroad has been released. He also added that "a major reconstruction and development plan for Iran has begun."
Iran got what it wanted
Judging by these initial statements from Araghchi, it appears that Iran has received what it wanted in this first phase. Iran had set specific conditions for the start of the technical negotiations. Tehran had made it clear that the memorandum of understanding—and particularly Articles 1, 10, and 11—had to be implemented first. It had also emphasized that technical talks would neither begin nor proceed unless specific commitments were met. Now that the parties have agreed to continue technical negotiations throughout the week in Switzerland, there are indications of substantial progress.
In fact, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that his country received what it was asking for. According to Araghchi, restrictions on the export of Iranian oil and petrochemical products were suspended, and the blockade was lifted—another key demand of Tehran. He also mentioned that part of the Iranian assets frozen abroad were released and that a broad program for the reconstruction and economic development of Iran was put into effect. These are particularly significant developments for Iran, as they are directly linked to the country's economic recovery, the increase in export revenues, and the improvement of its access to international financial capital.
Political oversight
The mediators, Pakistan and Qatar, reported that the US and Iran agreed to establish a High-Level Committee, which will provide "political oversight of the mediation process." Negotiators who will report to the committee will lead working groups focused on nuclear issues, sanctions, and other ways of implementing the US–Iran agreement, according to a joint statement from the mediators.
Encouraging progress
The mediators also reported that "encouraging progress" was made in the talks—an unexpected result after a prolonged period of uncertainty. Just a few hours earlier, an Iranian source had stated that the talks had reached a stalemate after Trump verbally attacked Iran in an interview with Fox News.
What the joint statement says
Qatar and Pakistan, who are mediating between Iran and the United States, issued a joint statement after the conclusion of the talks in Switzerland. "The first meeting of the high-level negotiations under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding concluded in Burgenstock, Switzerland, with the participation of representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the United States of America, and the two mediators, the State of Qatar and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The meeting on Lake Lucerne took place in a positive and constructive climate.
Encouraging progress was achieved, including the creation of a mechanism for further technical negotiations. Within the framework of the memorandum, the parties agreed to the establishment of a High-Level Committee, which will assume political oversight of the mediation process. Lead negotiators will submit regular reports to the High-Level Committee and lead working groups focusing on the nuclear issue, sanctions, and a monitoring and dispute resolution group, in order to ensure the effective implementation of the memorandum and the promotion of other relevant issues."
60-day roadmap
The High-Level Committee agreed on a roadmap to reach a final agreement within 60 days, creating the conditions for the immediate commencement of further technical negotiations.
Hormuz communication line
Furthermore, a communication line was established between the two sides for the time period provided for in paragraph 5 of the memorandum, with the goal of preventing incidents and misunderstandings and ensuring the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
Lebanon is a "thorn"
At the same time, the parties agreed to create an escalation-mitigation unit with the participation of both sides and Lebanon, facilitated by the mediators, to ensure adherence to the agreement to terminate military operations in Lebanon, according to the memorandum. Technical negotiations will continue until the end of the week at the Buergenstock resort and will cover all relevant issues. The mediators will make every effort for the talks to continue in a constructive climate, with the aim of reaching a final agreement. "The State of Qatar and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan express their sincere appreciation to the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran for their continued commitment to diplomacy and the peaceful resolution of the dispute. The mediators also thank sister and friendly countries for their continued support and significant contribution to the ongoing negotiations," the statement says.
Araghchi (Iranian FM): The first real test
Abbas Araghchi, after the conclusion of the intensive negotiations, wrote on his personal social media account: "The tireless mediation of Pakistan and Qatar has led to significant progress in ending the war in Lebanon. At the same time, sanctions on oil and petrochemical product exports were suspended, the naval blockade was lifted, part of the frozen assets were released, and a major plan for the reconstruction and economic development of Iran was put into effect," said the Iranian FM. "The first real test: the de-confliction cell in Lebanon," emphasized Araghchi.
Qaani (Revolutionary Guard): Humiliation and defeat for Israel if it does not leave southern Lebanon
The head of the Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guard, Esmail Qaani, warned Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon, otherwise it risks facing a repeat of its unconditional withdrawal from the country in 2000. In a social media post, Qaani stated that if Israel persists in what he characterized as "aggression and occupation," it will be driven out with "humiliation and defeat," according to the state network Press TV. "If you do not leave southern Lebanon on your own two feet, the epic of 2000 will be repeated, the same year in which you abandoned this land in shame," Qaani stated. "The choice is yours," he added.
Thomas Warrick (Atlantic Council researcher): Technical negotiations will be truly difficult
The upcoming technical negotiations between the US and Iran will be "truly difficult" and may last longer than the 60 days provided for in the interim agreement, estimates Thomas Warrick, a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. "There cannot be an agreement on the nuclear program without there being a simultaneous agreement on sanctions and frozen assets," Warrick told Al Jazeera. "This is a process where one side gives up what the other side wants most and, in return, receives what it wants itself," he added. Referring to the nuclear issue, Warrick argued that the biggest obstacle concerns the management of Iran's enriched uranium stockpiles. "The removal or dilution of enriched uranium would require the involvement of several thousand people, likely about 1,000 Americans, who would have to enter some of Iran's most sensitive nuclear facilities," he said, referring to the American demand that Washington have a role in the process of reducing Iranian stockpiles.
"I cannot imagine that Iran would be particularly happy with such an idea," he noted. Warrick also stressed that the lifting of economic sanctions against Iran will not necessarily be easy, especially in the case of sanctions imposed by the US Congress. "Congress is currently very unhappy with the deal. And it is by no means certain that it will agree to lift some of the sanctions that Iran is asking to be abolished," he stated. Concluding, he emphasized that the technical talks will not just be difficult, but extremely complex. "It is not just that the technical negotiations will be difficult. They are truly difficult, and some of the issues will require discussions that will clearly exceed the time limit of the next 60 days," he said.
Involvement and threats
Trump threatened to repeat bombings against Iran and to take control of the Strait of Hormuz, stating: "If they don't reach a deal, we will impose tolls." Trump also revealed that he issued strict warnings to Iranian officials regarding the possibility of closing the strategic maritime route. "If you close them (the Strait of Hormuz), you won't have a country," he stated he told the Iranian officials. "You won't even be able to return to your f***ing country," he added. The spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esmaeil Baghaei, stated, according to state media, that Iran initially refused to continue talks after the disclosure of Trump's threats.
To apologize
In fact, the Iranian delegation participating in the talks with the United States argued that it would not continue official contacts until US President Donald Trump apologized for the threats he made during the negotiation process. According to the Al Mayadeen television network, the Iranian negotiators made it clear that they would not return to the negotiating table without a prior apology from the American president for his recent statements.
Qatar and Pakistan asked Trump to de-escalate the tension with a conciliatory post
The mediators from Qatar and Pakistan reportedly asked US President Donald Trump to make a conciliatory public statement after his threats toward Iran, in an attempt to save the negotiations in Switzerland. The mediators estimate that a softer post from the American president could contribute to de-escalating the tension and create the conditions for the resumption of official contacts between the two sides.
Before Trump, everything was running smoothly
The first round of talks concluded at 18:30 Greek time on Sunday, 21/6, and technical consultations were supposed to follow before the American president sabotaged everything. At the center of the discussions were the implementation of the memorandum of understanding already agreed upon, US sanctions, the release of Iranian assets, the situation in Lebanon, and the issue of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran had already achieved the first goal it set, as $6 billion in funds located in Qatar are being released, while an immediate goal is the unfreezing of a total of 24 billion out of the total 100 billion. Iran had made it clear that it is willing to continue the dialogue, but only under conditions of mutual respect and full implementation of agreed commitments. In this context, and after Israel complied with a ceasefire in Lebanon, the gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz began with the permission of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC). At the same time, Tehran categorically denied reports claiming that an agreement had been re-signed between Iran and the United States. A source close to the Iranian negotiating team clarified that there is currently no agreement for re-signing, while emphasizing that the process is continuing exclusively within the frameworks set by the Iranian leadership and existing commitments.
We are not participating in the show... - The Iranian delegation refused a joint photo and handshake with the Americans
The members of the Iranian delegation to the talks with the United States refused to participate in a joint photo shoot and handshake with the American delegation before the start of the negotiations, according to the Tasnim agency. According to the same source, Tehran expressed its dissatisfaction with what it characterized as a "communication and demonstrative show" on the part of Washington. "The Iranian delegation, reacting to the communication and media show of the United States, made it clear that a prerequisite for its participation was the departure of the journalists and a focus on the practical implementation of what was agreed upon. The negotiations began as soon as the media representatives left," the source reported.
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