The first round of high-level talks between Iran and the United States, mediated by Qatar and Pakistan, concluded on Monday at the Bürgenstock resort in Switzerland with a joint statement detailing a 60-day roadmap towards a final agreement. According to the Qatari-Pakistani communiqué, the parties agreed to establish a high-level committee to provide political oversight of the mediation process, alongside specialised working groups on nuclear issues, sanctions, and dispute resolution. A direct communication line was created to prevent incidents and misunderstandings in the Strait of Hormuz, and a “de-escalation unit” involving Iran, the United States, and Lebanon, facilitated by the mediators, was formed to ensure adherence to a cessation of military operations in Lebanon.

Viewed from Doha and Islamabad, the mediators expressed “sincere appreciation” for the continued commitment of Washington and Tehran to diplomacy and a peaceful settlement. The Iranian foreign ministry, in separate remarks, stressed that ending the war must encompass all fronts in the region, including Lebanon, and that stability requires a comprehensive halt to military operations and political resolution of tensions. Iranian media outlets reported that the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued documents lifting oil, petrochemical, and derivatives sanctions for a 60-day period, enabling Iran to officially sell oil to customers and receive payments through formal central bank mechanisms. Iranian commentary interpreted the Hormuz communication line as consolidating Iran’s sovereignty over the strait, and the Lebanon unit as Iran’s formal entry into Lebanese security equations.

From Washington, the talks were accompanied by a dual messaging strategy. US Vice President J.D. Vance, present at the negotiations, spoke of dialogue and optimism, while President Donald Trump issued threats via social media and interviews, warning that the US would “take control” of the Strait of Hormuz if necessary, and that Hezbollah would be targeted “harder than ever” if Iran did not rein it in. Analysts in Israeli media, cited by Iran International, described this as a calculated “carrot and stick” approach, with Trump seeking to rebuild a tough image after facing domestic and Israeli criticism that the initial memorandum of understanding had conceded too much without addressing Iran’s ballistic missile programme or support for armed proxies.

The negotiations are conducted under the framework of the “Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding,” dated 28 Khordad 1405 in the Iranian calendar, which aimed to end what Tehran terms the “imposed war.” The newly agreed roadmap sets a 60-day deadline for a final accord, with technical talks continuing through the end of the week in Bürgenstock. The high-level committee will receive regular reports from senior negotiators and direct the working groups. The mediators stated they will continue maximum efforts to maintain a constructive atmosphere. The next concrete step is the immediate commencement of further technical discussions, while the 60-day timeline for a final agreement is now formally in motion.