The first session of high-level U.S.-Iran negotiations under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding concluded June 21 at the Bürgenstock resort in Switzerland—with the participation of Iran, the United States, and the two mediating parties, Qatar and Pakistan. In a joint statement posted by Pakistan’s Foreign Office, the mediators reported “encouraging progress” in “a positive and constructive atmosphere,” including agreement on a roadmap to a final deal within 60 days.
The parties agreed to establish a High-Level Committee to oversee the mediation. Chief negotiators, reporting to it regularly, will lead working groups on three tracks—nuclear, sanctions, and a monitoring and dispute-resolution group—to ensure the MoU is implemented. A communication line was established for the period covered by paragraph 5 of the MoU, to avoid incidents and secure safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. The most consequential step is agreement on a de-confliction cell—among the parties, Lebanon, and the mediators—to enforce the termination of military operations in Lebanon. Iran’s Foreign Minister called this cell the “first real test” of the negotiations.
