The first high-level US–Iran talks under a preliminary ceasefire memorandum concluded in Switzerland with sharply divergent accounts of what was achieved. US Vice President JD Vance announced that Iran had agreed to readmit inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), calling it “a major milestone” and “the first step in permanently ending a nuclear weapons programme in Iran.” Hours later, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told state media that “no new commitment” had been made on the nuclear file and that the discussion had been “very brief” and without detail. The talks, mediated by Pakistan and Qatar at the Bürgenstock resort, were the first direct engagement since the US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding last week to halt a war that began in late February.

Viewed from Washington, the talks produced a “very good foundation” for a final deal. Vance said mechanisms had been agreed to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, to establish a “de-confliction cell” for Lebanon, and to create a process for unfreezing Iranian assets to purchase US agricultural commodities. US officials also pointed to a 60-day roadmap, endorsed by the mediators, for negotiating a permanent settlement covering Iran’s nuclear programme, sanctions relief, and regional security. The US Treasury issued a 60-day licence waiving sanctions on Iranian oil, and the State Department announced Secretary of State Marco Rubio would travel to Gulf capitals to discuss developments.

Iranian officials, however, characterised the meeting as a presentation of positions rather than the start of formal negotiations. According to Iran’s foreign ministry, the delegation walked out briefly after President Donald Trump posted threats on social media, and it insisted that substantive talks can begin only after the US implements points in the existing memorandum, including the release of frozen assets and sanctions waivers for oil sales. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the Lebanon deconfliction cell as the “first real test” of the process. Tehran also maintained that its nuclear programme is exclusively civilian, a position it has held for decades, and that any change in IAEA access would require parliamentary approval.

The mediators’ joint statement said the parties had agreed on a “roadmap towards reaching a final deal within 60 days” and had established a high-level committee for political oversight. A communication line was set up to avoid incidents in the Strait of Hormuz, and a deconfliction cell was created to end military operations in Lebanon, where a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has been repeatedly breached. Israeli leaders, who were not party to the Swiss talks, have insisted their forces will remain in southern Lebanon and retain freedom of action. Technical negotiations are to continue in Switzerland for the rest of the week, while the 60-day clock for a comprehensive agreement has begun.