Mediators Qatar and Pakistan announced that the United States and Iran have agreed on "a roadmap towards reaching a final deal within 60 days," following what they described as "encouraging progress" during the first day of high-level talks in Switzerland.
The discussions came after the signing of a 14-point memorandum of understanding (MoU) on June 17 that established a framework for de-escalation between Washington and Tehran and laid the groundwork for further negotiations.
The breakthrough followed an 18-hour meeting at Lake Lucerne attended by senior officials from both countries. The joint statement also announced the creation of a "de-confliction cell" aimed at ending Israel's military operations in Lebanon, alongside a high-level committee and direct communication channels to support further negotiations.
US Vice President JD Vance led Washington's delegation, alongside Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff. Iran's delegation was led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and included Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
"Yesterday was a very, very good day. We made a lot of good progress. We did exactly what we wanted to do," Vance told reporters on Monday.
Key Takeaways
High-Level Committee and Communication Channels
A high-level committee has been established to provide political oversight on the mediation, according to a joint statement by Qatar and Pakistan. The committee agreed on the 60-day roadmap, with further technical talks expected over the next two months. Chief negotiators will report regularly to the committee and lead working groups focused on nuclear issues, sanctions, and a monitoring and dispute resolution group.
Thomas Warrick, a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, told Al Jazeera that the technical negotiations could prove far more challenging than the political agreement and may take longer than 60 days.
Major questions remain unresolved, including whether Iran will be permitted to continue enriching uranium, the fate of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, the scope of international inspections, and the timeline for sanctions relief.
The parties also established a communication line focused on the Strait of Hormuz to avoid incidents and ensure safe passage for commercial vessels. This comes amid continued disruption to maritime traffic through the strategic waterway, where only 12 vessels crossed on Sunday, down from 35 the previous day.
De-Confliction Cell for Lebanon
The agreement includes the creation of a "de-confliction cell" to support efforts to end military operations in Lebanon. Araghchi declared "major progress" towards ending the war in Lebanon but cautioned that the effectiveness of the cell would be the first real test.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will remain in a security zone in southern Lebanon for as long as necessary. The zone covers about 6 percent of Lebanese territory. The head of Iran's Quds Force warned Israel to leave southern Lebanon or face a repeat of its 2000 withdrawal.
Al Jazeera's Nour Odeh, reporting from Ramallah, said Israeli commentators described the outcome as a strategic dilemma for Israel, as the new dynamic compels Israel to compromise without losing public confidence.
"The final deal is the house," Vance said. "We set the foundation. We haven't built the house, but we've laid a successful foundation to get to a good place for the American people."