The first round of high-level talks between the United States and Iran concluded in Switzerland on Monday, with mediators announcing that both sides had agreed on a roadmap aimed at reaching a final agreement within the next 60 days.
In a joint statement, mediators Qatar and Pakistan said technical negotiations would continue throughout the week at the Swiss mountain resort of Buergenstock, which is owned by Qatar.
According to the statement, both countries also agreed on a mechanism to help end ongoing hostilities in Lebanon and establish communication channels to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
The discussions followed a memorandum of understanding signed last week that extended a fragile ceasefire reached in April for at least another 60 days. US Vice President JD Vance led the American delegation during talks that began on Sunday and continued into the early hours of Monday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi later said Tehran had secured several concessions, including waivers for oil and petrochemical exports, the release of some frozen assets and the launch of a reconstruction and development programme for the country.
The White House did not immediately comment on the outcome of the negotiations.
Tensions briefly escalated before the talks began after reports emerged that US President Donald Trump had warned Iran against attempting to close the Strait of Hormuz again.
According to reports, Trump told Iranian officials that their country would face severe consequences if the vital shipping route was shut down. He also reportedly repeated earlier remarks suggesting the United States could take control of the waterway and potentially impose transit charges.
Conflicting accounts emerged regarding the atmosphere inside the negotiations.
Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported that members of the Iranian delegation refused to return to the negotiation room after Trump’s comments became public, although indirect communications continued through Pakistani and Qatari mediators.
Iranian sources said discussions on the country’s nuclear programme would require progress on other commitments outlined in the memorandum, including the release of frozen assets and authorisation for Iranian oil exports.
However, a US diplomat involved in the talks disputed reports of any walkout, insisting that Iranian representatives remained engaged in discussions late into the night.
The diplomat said negotiators addressed issues including the Strait of Hormuz, Lebanon, nuclear matters and implementation details related to the memorandum of understanding.
One of the most sensitive issues remains the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy corridor through which a large portion of the world’s oil supply passes.
Iran announced over the weekend that it had once again halted maritime traffic through the strait, citing what it described as Washington’s failure to ensure an end to hostilities involving Hezbollah in Lebanon.
While US officials disputed claims that the waterway had been fully closed, shipping data indicated a significant slowdown in vessel movements through the area.
Data from maritime analytics firm Kpler showed that only five ships passed through the strait on Sunday compared with 26 vessels the previous day.
Iran’s Fars News Agency also quoted a military source as saying that no new permits were being issued for ships seeking passage until further notice.
Trump previously said the memorandum of understanding was necessary to prevent a global economic crisis triggered by soaring oil prices linked to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, despite continued tensions, signs of improvement emerged in Lebanon following a ceasefire announcement on Friday.
Sunday was reported to be one of the quietest days in recent months, with fewer reports of violence and increasing numbers of displaced residents returning to their homes.
More than one million people have reportedly been displaced since fighting intensified earlier this year, while residents in southern Lebanon were seen returning home and waving Hezbollah flags as traffic flowed back into affected areas.
Although significant differences remain between Washington and Tehran, both sides are expected to continue technical discussions this week in an effort to translate the fragile ceasefire into a broader and more lasting agreement.
