US-Iran make 'encouraging progress' at talks although tension still persists

BUERGENSTOCK, Jun 22: The United States and Iran made "encouraging progress" at the first round of talks aimed at reaching a final peace deal, mediators said on Monday, although tension persisted over Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz.

The two sides agreed to a roadmap towards a lasting deal to end their war within 60 days at the talks in the Qatari-owned Swiss mountain resort of Buergenstock, which concluded early on Monday, mediators Pakistan and Qatar said.

They also agreed on a mechanism to end fighting in Lebanon between US ally Israel and Iran-aligned Hezbollah, and opened a communications line to help ensure safe passage for commercial ships through the strait, a vital global oil supply route.

Sunday's meeting followed an interim deal signed last week and stretched into the early hours of Monday, despite Tehran again shutting the waterway on Saturday and US President Donald Trump threatening to resume attacks on Iran.

"The discussions were held in a positive and constructive atmosphere and yielded encouraging progress," Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wrote on X, adding that the first round of talks had "concluded successfully".

Vice President JD Vance, who led Washington's delegation, told reporters Trump had "asked us to turn over a new leaf to transform our relationship with the people of Iran" and said progress had been made towards ending hostilities in Lebanon.
"These things are always a little bit messy," he said.

The main Iranian negotiating team, including senior diplomat Mohammad BaqerQalibaf, left Switzerland for Tehran, Iranian student news agency ISNA reported, but technical talks were due to continue for the rest of this week.

In a post on social media, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran had secured waivers for oil and petrochemical exports, the release of some frozen assets and the launch of a reconstruction and development plan for Iran.�" REUTERS