The opening round of U.S.-Iran talks under the Islamabad Memorandum produced an architecture of mechanisms meant to carry the deal through the next 60 days, infuriating Israel.
Vice President J.D. Vance called the June 21 Bürgenstock session “a very, very good day,” claiming four results: a contact line and a demining plan to keep the Strait of Hormuz open; a “deconfliction” mechanism for the Lebanon ceasefire; an Iranian agreement to readmit IAEA inspectors; and the start of technical talks under Qatari and Pakistani mediation. Iran confirmed the outline—four working groups (sanctions, nuclear, reconstruction, monitoring), an OFAC general license for Iranian oil sales, and the release of $12 billion in frozen funds in two installments—while disputing Washington’s spin. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said no nuclear issues were even discussed, and rejected Vance’s claim that the unfrozen funds are earmarked to buy American grain: “Our assets will be employed with absolute liberty,” he said. (The MoU contains no such restriction on Iranian funds.) Regarding IAEA inspectors, Baghaei said only that Iran’s cooperation with the IAEA continues under existing law and procedure, not exactly the fresh concession Vance announced.
Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Araghchi flew to Oman to coordinate on the Strait with Sultan Haitham, while Iranian and Russian diplomats met in Moscow and stressed UN Resolution 1701, “the soonest withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon,” and a viable Palestinian state.
